YesterdazeNews Magazine

YESTERDAZENEWS

The NAMM Show

Gibson Relaunch

She Rocks Awards | HellHeart | Black Mirrors | Tommy Bolan | Tod Junker Dead City Crown | Neil Lim Sang - Rock Out ALS Auction | Monster Jam VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 1 - FEBRUARY 2019

COMING SOON!!!

SEE PAGE 8 FOR DETAILS 2

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Letter from the editor Hello Readers!

It was a busy end of 2018 and as we moved in 2019 the planning started and the year kicked off covering Monster Jam and then a trip to the NAMM Show. I’ve had my hands on new gear, had conversations with artists who’ve been telling me about what they have planned for this year and one thing is true, most everyone is looking at a busy year to come.

There have already been a number of completely amazing new albums released this year and we are only in February! I’ve heard some advance releases of some albums coming in the next couple of months as well and I am thrilled to say, there are so many great albums coming out this year!

While we were on our break, we planned out the majority of the music festivals we will be covering this year starting off in March with HRH AOR in Wales. Then looking at summer we will be kicking the summer festival season off with Sweden Rock Festival and plan to wrap up our summer festivals up with Sabaton Open Air in August, while squeezing in Helgeafestivalen and Wacken Open Air in the mix a long with a few others we are still making decisions on. One thing for certain, we will have some fun music coverage for you this year!

Thank you for an amazing 2018 and let’s get 2019 started!

Cheers, Diane Webb

YESTERDAZENEWS Volume 2 - Issue # 1 - 2019 PUBLISHER/EDITOR DIANE WEBB WRITERS DIANE WEBB PATRICK BURT PHOTOGRAPHERS DIANE WEBB PATRICK BURT TRANSCRIBER/ DIANE WEBB COPY EDITOR LAYOUT & COVER DIANE WEBB, DESIGN YESTERDAZENEWS PHOTOGRAPHY FRONT COVER DIANE WEBB BACK COVER DIANE WEBB

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Who We Are:

We are an online and print publication based out of Seattle, Washintong with writers around the USA. We cover music from all around the world as well as select European, UK and Scandinavian music festivals. If you’d like us to cover an event, an album or video release, or other item, reach out to us at: media@yesterdazenews.com

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In This Issue FEATURE STORY: The NAMM Show

22 06 Bands to Discover

07 Album Reviews INTERVIEWS:

08 Rock Out ALS Charity Auction - Interview with Neil Lim Sang 12 Black Mirrors 14 Dead City Crown - Anthony Ponce and Fabio Sisco 17 DORO / NYC - Tommy Bolan

18 Junker Clothing / Die Fast - Tod Junker

20 HellHeart - Alie Grabowski 22 The NAMM Show 2019 30 She Rocks Awards 2019 Red Carpet Event

36 Gibson NAMM JAM Relaunch Party 40 Festival Preview - Sweden Rock Festival 42 Festival Preview - Helgeåfestivalen 44 Entertainment - Monster Jam

On The Front Cover: Peter Frampton at the Gibson NAMM Jam On The Back Cover: Nita Strauss at the She Rocks Awards Red Carpet

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Bands to Discover

Gathering of Kings Genre: Melodic Rock Location: Sweden How to find them: www.gatheringofkings.se

HellHeart Genre: Metal, Metalcore, Hardcore Location: Sacramento, CA How to find them: www.hellheartmusic.com Photo Credit: Julian Aguilar

Black Mirrors Genre: Indie, Alternative, Blues Rock Location: Brussels, Belgium How to find them: www.blackmirrors.net

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Album Reviews Battle Beast, No More Hollywood Endings (Nuclear Blast) Release Date: March 22, 2019. Rating: 10 of 10 Incredible sophomore release from Battle Beast. The new album is packed with tracks that weave in and out of multiple metal sub-genres. It’s fresh with clear vulnerabilities as Noora Louhimo challenges herself with her cleanest vocals yet, while rocking out hard. On this album fans will experience a mix of symphonic metal, rock, hard rock and at times what sounds like a throwback to some 80’s style Vixen rock tracks. The writing explores the bands abilities as musicians and the production and final mix conquer a new experience for the band and for the fans alike. It’s a great, singable album that fans are going to stop and listen to, since there’s so much going on in the music. Fans who feel this is too varied need to give the album a few full listens before making a decision. Definitely an album to pick up!

Gathering of Kings, First Mission (RN Records) Release Date: January 25, 2019 Rating: 10 of 10 Melodic rock done with the feel of the 70’s disco/rock essence infused into the modern sound, Gathering of Kings hit a home run with First Mission. A large number of Swedish musicians came together to perform on this album, hence the name Gathering of Kings. And it does not fall short of the expectations that fans of these artists had. It’s a masterful album packed with so many elements for music lovers to immerse themselves in. Each track keeps delivering a wonderful an unique experience that music listeners don’t get very often. I say hunt this one down and buy it! It’s not available to stream in the USA so head to www.aorheaven.com to buy the cd. Sorry but the vinyls were only released and available in EU countries and is sold out, we’ve asked them to try to release some for the Americas!

Lullwater, Voodoo (Independent) Release Date: February 22, 2019 Rating: 8 of 10 At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like this album, I’ve not been much of a fan of previous works by this band, but upon hearing that one of my favorite producers Jakob Herrmann had produced and mixed this album (co-produced by Justin Davis), it was an album that I had to listen to at least once. This is a producer I trust to deliver the best album possible. So in a first, I actually enjoyed this album a lot. This album sounds like an incredible mix of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, that true grunge feel but twisted up into something new and original. One thing, when people want their drums to sound incredible, they call Jakob Herrmann, and on the track “This Life”, the intro blew me away! Herrmann told me that he had a hand in that intro, and without a doubt I could hear his unmistakable work there. Great album!

Last In Line, Last In Line II (Frontiers Music srl) Release Date: February 22, 2019 Rating: 9 of 10 The talent displayed on this album is nothing short of mastery. The wailing guitars that shift into hefty solos that let Vivian Campbell remind listeners just who he is and what he’s capable of! Smashing yet technical tempos from Vinny Apice that show his control and understanding of how drums need to sound on a rock album. Phil Soussan’s heavy, intentional and deep basslines sprinkled with the melodies will please even the most modest fans of bass!! Especially on the track “False Flag”! Tie it all up with Andrew Freeman and his melodic, raw and controlled yet raging vocals and you have this spectacular example of everything that should be in a great rock album. This is definitely an album to pick up and listen to. With the combined years of music mastery in this band, nothing short of a great album!

Delain, Hunter’s Moon (Napalm Records) February 22, 2019 Rating: 8 of 10 Glorious, epic, enigmatic! Hunter’s Moon is an album that stunning and completely larger than life.

Dreamy, fantasmic vocals matched with drifting instrumentals that explode into breathtaking cinematic symphonic metal that’s going to please even the toughest of critics. In this new album fans get a mix of live tracks and 4 new studio tracks to take in. At sometimes you will feel like you are at a live Delain show and at others just absorbing the new music. There’s something for all Delain fans to enjoy in this album.

It’s also a taste for any fan or new listener to experience how Delain sounds in a live performance. North American fans, you get your next change to experience Delain live and in person starting in September 2019, not a show to be missed!

Find more in-depth album reviews on our website at WWW.YESTERDAZENEWS.COM

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Rock Out ALS Auction Interview With Neil Lim Sang Neil Lim Sang is a familiar face around the music community. Many of you may recognize him from tours, cruises and if you’re local to the Pacific Northwest, you’ve most likely seen him in Vancouver, BC, Portland or his home city of Seattle. I’ve personally known Neil for a number of years. We met at a show years back and have become good friends over the years. He’s someone who rarely speaks out publicly about his personal life and even more rare is him reaching out to ask for help. So when the call for help and awareness came my direction, the only option for me, was to answer it.

Over the past few years, Neil has been collecting all types of personalized musical items for an auction to raise money for ALS research and to help people locally in Seattle affected by the devastating effects of ALS. You may ask, why ALS? In this case, it’s because ALS has personally touched his life and he wants to be a part of finding a cure. I did an interview with Neil to help you all learn more about how it has touched his life and to bring awareness to the charity auction that’s coming up soon where fans will have the opportunity to collect some one of a kind swag that’s been autographed by many musicians who wanted to be part of this incredible event. So read on and learn about ALS and the ROCK OUT ALS Auction.

YesterdazeNews Magazine: Can you please tell the readers a little about yourself?

Neil Lim Sang: My name is Neil Lim Sang. I am now a Washington based creative artist/photographer. I have been in the music scene for several years as a touring photographer. My day job being a computer animator has taken me from California, to Australia, to Vancouver Canada and now here working on various film and TV projects. The music scene has always been the best way to keep in touch with touring friends. It gets to know the local culture and scene, as the jobs I have had have been transient. You’ve probably seen me out at several shows, as I do often see a few.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) hit your family in a deeply personal way, what would you like people to know about your personal experience with ALS and why raising awareness means so much to you?

who I’d be or where my family would be under the cost of that kind of care here in the States. My Mom and I took care of my father at home for nearly 6 years until he needed full-time; round the clock care and then we had to put him in a Chronic Care facility for the last 2 years of his life.

When my father died, I turned to music as my release and therapy. I didn’t know how to deal with thing. How does one know how to after seeing that happen to your father for 8 years?

Music has always been my escape and release from the insanity of much. Heavy music has been such an integral part of my life.

To this day it is still something I am passionate about, and it also has introduced me to some of my dearest friends. So being able to get some of those friends to help, and for me to be able to give something back is phenomenal.

For many years I had mentally blocked out ALS, and rarely talked My father, Leslie Lim Sang, passed away from this disease on January about it. Even as the “Ice Bucket Challenge” raised so much 15th, 1985 when I was 15. My dad had been stricken with ALS when awareness and funding, I was unable to see the good. I’d been I was 7. So for 8 years, until his passing, I lived with it and grew up seeing the devastating effects it had on my father. You never want to see that. Ever.

It was not the childhood most have, and I was forced to grow up and become an adult at a young age. I had to help my Mom raise my brother (2 years old) and sister (new born) who were 6 and 8 years younger, respectively, through that time. My mom, Jen is also my hero, as she had to work full time, raise 3 kids and take care of her ailing husband. My sister was just a baby when my father started showing signs of the disease. She was 6 when he passed. Back then, and even today there are no more answers.

I grew up in Ontario, Canada so I am thankful for the Canadian Medical system for helping us. There is no way we could have survived in the States with the cost of medical care. I have no idea

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nominated to do it by several friends, and my first response was “FUCK THAT!” You have no idea.

Meeting the ROALS folks at this festival was the first time I was able to see others that had dealt with things similarly. To see the efforts and passion which were like my own (but buried) really opened my eyes and my heart finally. This resulted in a paradigm shift for me.

It made me ask, how can I be involved and give back to the very thing that made me shut off in the first place?

Can you tell me how you came to know the organization Rock Out ALS and how you got involved with them?

Rock Out ALS was first started in 2008 when Anne Vanderschoot Dunn, the mother of its Founder, Michael Mad Mike Miller was diagnosed with ALS. Music was their common language. Mrs. Dunn was a ‘Rocker’ and took Miller to his first concerts, as well as exposed him to FM Radio in the seventies before there were specific programing formats being followed. With Dunn in the San Francisco Bay Area and Miller in the Seattle Area, Miller felt like he had to do something to help.

special signed that can raise funds for ROALS and ALS. So to get them to sign things for an auction was an idea that hit me.

This makes things very special, rare and unique for the memorabilia collector. Knowing that the funds are going towards our charity is something meaningful and a bit different than lining someone’s pocket.

It took me a long time to be able to speak about my Father to anyone that didn’t know me from when I was a kid. It isn’t something that just comes up in a conversation, even with longtime friends. So to be able to do something that I know he would be proud of, to attach him as the person and reason to why I am doing has been cathartic. It has helped me heal in ways I had no idea about as I speak to musicians and friends about Rock Out ALS. People are more likely to open up themselves when you share something so personal. I have found out about several others who have lost friends and family to ALS by sharing my story. For them too it wasn’t something that you just start talking about. Many of the musicians have taken a personal interest and also asked “Why are you doing this” and it is easier to talk about now.

I met Michael Miller and the ROALS folks at Rock Out ALS Fest 2016.

I had been living in Washington for just over a year at this point, While it won’t help my father, or those that have passed on, it is and friends of mine in a something that I can band called Windowpane do to help give back were playing their benefit to something that has show. I was going to just affected my life. Doing photograph Windowpane, that with friends that have but when I reached out helped me through their to them and they put music and them helping me in touch with Mike. me offer something unique After we spoke, I decided to someone will be special. to donate my time, and photography work to Hoping to make a document the entire event. difference, raise some Little did I know it would money and help give back change my perception and is why I am passionate involvement from that very about what I am doing. moment.

Keeping my father’s memory alive and hoping You are getting ready he is proud of what we can to do a charity auction accomplish. where proceeds will go to Rock Out ALS. Can you When is the auction? tell me how you came up with the idea to put this The auction is going Alice Cooper Photo by: Kyler Clark - Instagram @cerealklyer auction together? to be online, and done Worldwide. The artists In 2017, Rock Out ALS received 501(c)(3) status and is a recognized that I have items from are International, as are their fans. non-profit here in WA. We are a small grass roots organization.

Hoping to launch things near the end of March 2019. This will be Over the years since the inception ROALS has sponsored or put on the inaugural one, and once we see reception and value in what we various events in the Seattle and Woodinville, WA area. Events like learn from it, we’ll put out another later in the year. Hoping to do 2 cookouts, rock concerts, Pub nights, and our team participating in auctions a year. It is a lot of work, and we are a small organization. the Seattle Walk to Defeat ALS. Meaning it is me and one other person doing this all, so time is valuable and limited. We don’t have a huge group of people behind Our mission statement is Rock Out ALS “Fighting Lou Gehrig’s us, so we do what we can.

Disease One Riff At A Time” means a lot. Raising funds and awareness is our goal.

What can people bid on in this auction?

Since the ROALS Fest in 2016 I realized I might be able to bring that awareness and get contributions on a more international level in a way that was right in front of me, but I wasn’t able to see or act upon until this event.

Well for the last few years I have been procuring and amassing a lot of various items and autographed memorabilia.

One of the main items (which is the centerpiece of each auction) is our ROALS “Flat”, which is an album cover sized design of our Logo, which I get signed. There are only 2 flats signed by each artist. This I have been fortunate to have many long-standing relationships with makes it a rare, and special since there are only 2 available. Ever. several musical artists. I have been able to tour the US and Europe as a Photographer with several bands over many years.

There are other items of course; I have gotten so many cool items that would be hard to come by. These items include signed guitars, So I wanted to get our Organization known on a more International picks, drumsticks, drumheads, tour artwork, posters, tour laminates, level, and to spread awareness and raise funds. To simply raise set lists and more. awareness not only in the music community, but also globally for a disease that affects many people worldwide. Musicians sign It is a treasure trove of items from artists like SLAYER, Alice Cooper, autographs all the time, and I have access to getting something Alice In Chains, In Flames, Stone Sour, Shinedown, Megadeth,

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Anthrax, Evanescence, Gojira and so many more. I seriously have lost count. Lots of cool shit, that is special. I have the photos to prove authenticity too. I usually try to take a picture of each artist signing things, and then a group or individual photo with the item(s) as well.

Doesn’t get more legit than Tom Araya, or Kerry King holding the ROALS flat that will be auctioned. Especially now that SLAYER is retiring this year.

Development Institute (ALSTDI). These organizations that have been around a long time, and are dedicated to finding a cure.

ALS is incurable. There recently have been some breakthrough treatment options that have been in testing, but the reality of the disease is a death sentence. Your body breaks down, slowly on a muscular level and most people eventually lose the ability to walk, talk, use their hands, swallow and breathe. All the while your mind is as sharp as ever and you become trapped in your body. Fucking horrific. ALS doesn’t discriminate. It affects anyone and everyone, and the devastation to family and loved ones is immeasurable.

We all want a cure. It seems, and this is just me speaking, that since there is no cure the funding towards research and treatment is severely underfunded. So when things like the “Ice Bucket Challenge” started, it raised a lot of money towards research.

We hope to raise funds as ROCK OUT ALS and just bring more care and community towards the research. It takes an army, but one day at a time and many fantastic organizations around the world have one goal… find a cure and END ALS.

This first one is chock full of some interesting items. So it will slowly be revealed on our socials prior to the auction going live. So stay tuned! You don’t want to miss out.

Where can they go to find all the items that will be available?

Go to our web site www.rockoutals.com for more information. Our Facebook is www.facebook.com/rockoutals and Instagram is @ RockOutALS. So follow us and see what we are up to. That is the best way to get accurate and up to date information. In the next month more will be revealed and will be posted.

How will the money that is raised during the auction be used?

Money raised will be split in donations between 2 main ALS charities. The ALS Association (ALSA), and ALS Therapy

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Interview - Black Mirrors

M

eet the Black Mirrors! This band hails from Belgium and just wrapped up a European tour with The Night Flight Orchestra. They’ve got a groovy rock n roll sound that is worthy of checking out so we wanted to chat with them so that you could get to know them.

Diane Webb for YesterdazeNews Magazine: In your own words, who are Black Mirrors?

Pierre: It was a natural process, we never really thought about it. We accept the songs as they came. The only thing we wanted was to have a heavy and powerful sound.

Marcella: Black Mirrors is our own tribe. Every night, we celebrate a new ceremony with our audience where powerful riffs meets strong and wild vocal lines, inviting everyone who wants to reach another What is the most important part for you, in writing your music? state of mind.

Marcella: To me, the most important thing in writing music is the How long have you been together as a band? melody and the rhythm. That’s what people will remember the first and will allow them to sing along and have fun with us on stage.

Marcella: Pierre and I created Black Mirrors in 2013. At first, I wanted to make a girl band and started to play with two friends of mine, one What are the top 5 bands that have influenced you as a on drums and the other one at the bass. We were looking for a guitar musician? player. I knew Pierre from another band and I really liked the way he played, so we asked him to join the band. After some jam sessions Marcella: Janis Joplin, The Doors, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and Anouk. together, Pierre and I wanted to make this Black Mirrors band more concrete, we wanted to start to play in front of an audience. But my Paul: Tool, Radiohead, Good Tiger, The Guru Guru, Porcupine Tree. girlfriends didn’t have the same aspiration. So, we continued the band with two other friend of mine Edouard and Gino. We had a lot Loïc: Rival Sons, Royal Blood, Gary Clark Junior, Red Hot Chili of line-up changes. Now, we are playing with Loïc, our bass player Peppers, R.L Burnside. since 7 months and at the drums, Paul have joined us 4 months ago.

It took us 5 years to get our final line-up and we are more than happy, Pierre: Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Queens Of we’re feeling that we have our own tribe now with them in the band, The Stone Age. so strong!

If you had to pick 1 album from the top 5 bands who influenced You have a mix of different styles from traditional blues rock, you as the one that you love the most, what would that album be post rock to modern stoner styles in your music. How did you and why? find your sound as band?

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Marcella: The Doors – Strange Days You know, I’ve been listening to The Doors since I’m 8 years old. My sister was fond of the band and heard it as we shared the same bedroom, I stole tapes from her the minute she left the room to listen. Since that I’m a big fan of what they did and Jim Morrison’s lyrics and poetry.

Warriors, I pray for all the people who died during the battle.

You’ve had a busy tour schedule during the second part of 2018 are you working on any other projects outside of Black Mirrors?

We’re all sharing the same tours because we don’t have any other Paul: Tool – Ten Thousand Days because it’s a perfect example of how bands. We only want to focus on Black Mirrors. music can make you transcend from your own daily life and even your own thoughts.

You’re currently on tour with the Night Flight Orchestra in Europe. The styles between their sound and Black Mirrors is Pierre: Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland because the guitar parts very well matched for a tour. How’s the current tour going? And of this album are just fucking awesome. The sound of the album is how are the fans reacting to Black Mirrors? incredible as well. Jimi really took the time to work on his music for this album and you can feel it.

The current tour is going very well, we’re having so much fun with everybody. They are all nice people. At the first sight, our music Loïc: Gary Clark Junior – Gary Clark Junior Live I love his guitar might be different but the way they write music is similar to ours sound, it’s huge! Especially live, it’s really dirty and wild. because I think both of our bands put focus on melody. The fans are actually reacting very well to our music.

You released your album Look Into The Black Mirror on August 31. What did you learn about yourselves as a band through the What does 2019 look like for Black Mirrors? process of recording the album?

We hope to tour a lot and to play at festivals this summer. We are Pierre: It’s really difficult to summarize in few words, because this also now writing new songs for the second album. album is basically the result of five years of creation. We tried to not limit ourselves and to accept all our different influences and to Is music full-time for everyone in the band or do you also have other create a coherent full piece. careers outside of Black Mirrors?

Your song ‘Burning Warriors’ was written as a tribute for Marcella: Pierre and I are teaching music besides Black Mirrors, indigenous people. What brought on the idea to write and record it’s cool to share our passion with people, to teach the next that song? generation. Paul is going for a second diploma in the field of music and Loïc puts his job on halt to invest more time in Black Mirrors.

Marcella: We are deeply touched by the Native American cause. I like to read about their history, especially about the Lakota. I read What do you want music fans who find you to know about you as about the wounded massacre which is one of the biggest slaughters a musician and the band? and just a few people know about it, so I wanted to pay tribute to them by writing lyrics about it. To me, Burning Warriors is one of Marcella: Live wise, as a band we want the audience to forget about the most powerful song we ever wrote to it was clear to me that I had the daily life and reach another state of mind during our show, to be to talk about that kind of subject. Every time, we perform Burning in the moment.

The Black Mirrors are: Marcella Di Troia - Vocals Pierre Lateur - Guitars Loïc Videtta - Bass Paul Moreau - Drums You can find them at: www.blackmirrors.net

Photos by KJ Melgoza.

Find KJ’s work: Facebook and Instagram @ Kameraworks.

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Interview - Dead City Crown - Anthony Ponce & Fabio Sisco

Left: Anthony Ponce, Right: Fabio Sisco

Dead

City Crown is a band we’ve been talking about for a few months and the opportunity came up to sit down and talk with a couple members last month at NAMM. It was well worth the conversation.

The guys are working on new music now, so expect to hear some new stuff this year. Meet Anthony

Ponce and Fabio Sisco!

Diane Webb for YesterdazeNews Magazine: We are here at NAMM and I have two of the guys from the New Jersey Melodic Death Metal band Dead City Crown here. I’ve got Anthony Ponce and Fabio Sisco. How are you guys doing today?

Fabio Sisco: Hey, What’s going on?

Anthony Ponce: Hello.

Your amazing EP, ‘Apex Of Fury’, released in 2018 and you guys are working on new music now. What’s the new music going to be like?

with him yet, he’s also been one of the guitar techs with Cyhra will be joining the band at the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise. How did it signing with Guilty Gorilla happen?

Fabio Sisco: I think a lot of our stuff is a little more European leanings in terms of sound. I wanted to have someone who was more familiar with that genre and that scene because we want to start expanding to the area. I figured great idea to go with Jake and Julian.

Overall, it’s been a pretty good decision.

Had you guys worked with management agencies before?

Anthony Ponce: Negative.

Fabio Sisco: It’s basically stuff we’ve done before times a million now.

Now, we’re just going balls to the wall. All bets are off basically.

Fabio Sisco: Never. We have not. This is our first time and we’re really lucky to be working with such great dudes. They have history Anthony Ponce: Everything’s more aggressive. in the scene, and in the market that we’re going for. This is the first time and I think we made the right choice.

Fabio Sisco: Yeah. It’s kind of going for blood on this one.

How did Dead City Crown come about?

Dead City Crown has signed with management through Jake E, vocalist from Cyhra, former vocalist with Amaranthe, and his Fabio Sisco: There are so many different stories behind it but partner Julian Vermerien. The management agency is, Guilty basically, it’s the shell. We revived it from the dead shell of a Gorilla Group, and Anthony, for those of you who aren’t familiar previous project. It was me and Carl as the vocalist. Then, we didn’t

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have a full line up at all. It was just me, him, a bass player, and we had a laptop for a computer. Over the years, we played like two shows like that and with the laptop computer and they went over pretty okay but it was time for a full line up. We found Jorge, our drummer.

I finally got Anthony in the band on bass. Then, he knew Brad from previously on guitar and then Brad joined us. Yeah. It’s been a journey, started like four years ago.

How about your sound? Did you go into this thinking that’s the sound you wanted or has it morphed and turned into your sound?

Fabio Sisco: No. I don’t really think anything when I write. It just comes out and whatever sounds good, we keep. I’m not one of those perfectionist types that goes back and revises everything he writes or rewrites everything. Obviously, the influences are there. The melodic death metal, European sound, also some power metal bands, I’m heavily into. It all just comes together when I write music and just whatever comes out is not thought up, it’s not forced and that’s our sound.

What do you think is the hardest thing for you guys as a new artist coming up today in this industry?

Fabio Sisco: Nothing’s really too difficult nowadays. Now, we have all access to social media, Spotify.

It’s very easy to get the word out.

Maybe the most difficult thing is finding the right tour package for us, making sure everybody is on the same page when it comes to moving up and working towards achieving our goals, which is eventually being able to tour the world. It hasn’t been too difficult at all and we’ve met some really great people who helped us out.

Anthony Ponce: The only difficult thing is a lot of saturation in a lot of different markets for styles of heavy music, but I think in a way, it’s kind of bad because there are so many bands but then it’s good because ... Like when Fabio does all the writing, we don’t stray away from, “Oh, this is too pop,” or, “This song is too fun or it’s not angry enough.” It’s like whatever comes out, it comes out. There’s pop elements, there’s power metal, there’s death metal, there’s melodic death metal, there’s everything.

“Oh, it’s not really heavy or it doesn’t work in a band.” Then, he puts it together and it’s like, “Holy shit. This is perfect for this part of the song or this song in general.”

You guys are up in the New York City area (specifically in Clifton, NJ). How’s the fan base there for what you guys are doing? Because I know you guys say you are more aligned, like more of the European sound. What do the fans think of the music out there?

Fabio Sisco: I think a lot of them dig it because it is refreshing. A lot of stuff that’s in the area or being a little more mainstream, it’s different, and it’s in a good way.

Anthony Ponce: Because it sets us apart. Yeah. The fan base is very strong where we’re from, especially in New York you know. I love the New York scene and everybody, even in other bands, in seeing there’s no competition. There’s no rivalry. Everybody has your back.

Everybody reps you and they push you and they want you to succeed, which is cool. It’s a great community of people who are also your fans.

What are you guys planning for summer?

Fabio Sisco: We’re going to release the EP first, have a music video done and then summer plans will be solidified after that.

Anthony Ponce: It’s all up in the air.

What do you want the fans to know about you guys? Like the crazy stuff, because I know you guys were looking at each other funny right now. For those who don’t know the band, Anthony and Fabio are neighbors and that’s got to be an interesting thing. How did that happen? How did you guys meet and become band mates?

Fabio Sisco: We met twice. We met once in college. Then, we’ve moved apart I guess, drifted apart. Then, one night in Hoboken, New Jersey, I was out partying and I walk into the train station bathroom to take a piss and as I’m doing so, I look over and there’s Anthony. I just go, “Anthony Ponce,” and he’s like, “Fabian?” Like, “Yeah.” Then, that’s the second time we reconnected. We’ve been boys ever since and moving into each other was like basically an accident. I wasn’t We’ll use standard chord progressions for choruses that are nice big planning on moving out or to where I am now, but he told me a place and easy and fun. Because if you’re not having fun playing the music just opened up and so I took it. Yeah. We’ve just been neighbors ever you’re playing and you’re forcing, “Let’s make this song really angry since. and force anger on this track,” or, “Let’s forcibly make this chorus epic.” Most of the writing I think for Fabio is just organic and that’s Is that hard, like if you guys have like band problems to be living why it flows so well and it sets us apart from a lot of other people next door to each other or ...? because we’re not afraid to do ... Like have these cheesy melodies here and there that in a context, if you listen to it by itself, it’s like, Anthony Ponce: We don’t have band problems.

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I have like other weird... I love Steely Dan’s, ‘Aja’. That’s one of my favorite albums of all time. Sonata Arctica, ‘Ecliptica’, it’s another one that’s up there. Honestly, Evergrey’s, ‘The Inner Circle’. That’s up there for me too.

Then, Metallica’s, ‘And Justice For All’. That’s probably my five.

Fabio Sisco: I would say I’ll give the albums that impacted me, musically. Stevie Ray Vaughn, ‘Texas Flood’, Joe Satriani, ‘Surfing with the Alien’, ‘Soundtrack To Your Escape’ by In Flames was big on me. That’s when I first discovered this kind of music, melodic death metal. I would say ‘Hatebreeder’ by Children of Bodom, and ‘Visions’ by Stratovarius. Yeah. It’s been that way since ...

Just feeding off those albums.

Diane: Awesome. Tell the fans where they can find you guys?

Fabio Sisco: No. Anthony Ponce: I don’t think we really have problems.

Fabio Sisco: No band problems at all. We’ll have our spats now and then but normally not band stuff. It’s just stupid shit, but it’s never really band problems or problems in general that I really see.

Fabio Sisco: We’re on Spotify, Instagram, Facebook. You can reach out to us through either one, YouTube. Search us up and we’ll come up. You can watch our videos, like our page, follow us for updates.

Just check us out.

Anthony Ponce: No. Everybody is ...

Anthony Ponce: We’re pretty active on social media too if you ever want to just ask us stuff or message us or send memes, we’re good always.

Fabio Sisco: Everyone’s on the same page. I think the lineup we have now is a little fine and everyone’s on the same page. Everyone contributes. It’s easy in a way.

Diane: Awesome. Dead City Crown, you guys can find them definitely on Spotify. Their EP is out there now. It’s fantastic. They’ve got new music coming. Guys, thanks a lot for your time.

That’s the way it should be.

Anthony Ponce: Thank you, Diane.

Fabio Sisco: Yeah. There’s no huge egos. No drama. If there is a problem, we’ll talk about it, squash it right there and move on.

Fabio Sisco: Thank you.

Let’s let the fans learn a little bit more about you. Each of you tell me what are your five top favorite albums of all time.

Fabio Sisco: Five? Ouch.

Anthony Ponce: That’s difficult.

Well, do you have a favorite album of all time?

Fabio Sisco: We both do. It’s ‘Painkiller’, Judas Priest. The number one heavy metal record of all time.

Anthony Ponce: Hands down. Nothing touches it. ‘Painkiller’ is definitely number one. It’s just mind-blowingly ... Nothing has come out that has been as heavy that and nothing I ... Before that was even close to it. It came out in like ‘90, ‘91. It’ll hold up against anything now.

Fabio Sisco: Yeah. We were just listening to it the other day. This still holds up in today’s scene. Absolutely, it does.

Anthony Ponce: Thirty years and it still completely holds up. Then,

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Find Dead City Crown at: Facebook.com/deadcitycrownofficial

Interview - DORO / NYC - Tommy Bolan Diane Webb with YesterdazeNews Magazine. We are here at the NAMM Show and Tommy Bolan is here. He just finished an epic autograph session with Doro at Morely Pedals. How you doing today, Tommy?

and then there’s a whole bunch of dates being put together, other festivals popping up. Doro’s one of the hardest working people you ever meet, and my work mentality is the exact same thing that’s why we get along so well. The chemistry is there, not only from the stage but everything else. It’s great.

Tommy Bolan: Doing good, man, signing a lot of autographs, having a great time meeting all the fans, it’s awesome, man. Great time.

You got anything going on outside of Doro?

Now you’re out here for Morley this year, right?

Well I have my own band, a band called NYC, which I sing in front.

I’m finishing up writing the record on that, I’ve been getting delayed Yeah, Morley, yeah they’re one of my biggest endorsers, great people on that cause I’ve been getting busy here and there but it’s all good. and they have a signature pedal of mine coming out this year. Which So, that record is being finished. I front and sing on that. But I also is still under wraps, it is gonna be coming out and we showed a have a side project called Bonzai, which features me and my friend mock-up of it over here and we also had a commemorative Triumph Jiro Okabe who used to play with me when I played with Richie and Agony pedal they gave Doro, which was wrapped in the album Ramone. We have an album out in the last year or so, so we might cover. A one off pedal that they made to commemorate Triumph and do some touring on that too, so. And even the guy from Accept, Agony, which was great, and she really loved it.

Christopher Williams, he played on that record.

I know that you did ProgPower U.S.A. with Doro in Atlanta, what was last year like for you and what have you got coming up this year?

Well last year was awesome it was a whirlwind, we did Grasspop in Belgium, that was like 50,000 people, we played Wacken like 80,000, we played, Bloodstock over there with Judas Priest, we played at Linea Rock in Spain, we played Summerfest. I mean, lots of great shows, it’s been great. The album Forever Warriors, Forever United came out, and you know I wrote a song on that with her. You know “If I Can’t Have You, No One Will”, I co-wrote that with her, and Johan Hegg from Amon Amarth and that came out great. I also played a lot of the guitar on “All For Metal”, the actual single, and “Turn It Up”, that’s actually me singing in the background at the end that’s my voice, singing at the end.

The album is doing great, even next month an E.P. comes out which features a live track from the Wacken performance of “If I Can’t Have You, No One Will”, and a couple other songs from the album as well. And then this year coming up, there’s some European tour dates in March, which I’m part of as well, and then there’s a full U.S. tour which I’ll be on every U.S. date. We’re doing a bunch of shows with Metal Church.

So what do have planned here this week at NAMM? I just did the Morley thing, I’m demoing tomorrow at a really cool company that makes all these great polishes called Lizard Spit, they make even stuff for your car as well. I’m demoing there tomorrow at three thirty. And then seeing all my other endorsers. I mean I’m with Schecter, EMG, Graph Tech, Celestion, I mean a lot of great companies work with me.

One last question so I can let you go, busy day. What do you have to say to all your fans?

Well, definitely always appreciate all the support. You know, those who have been die-hard fans forever, you know it means a lot to us even doing the signing here all the people coming out. The die-hards who buy everything from the merchandise, or just the tickets to come there. Speaking for myself, and I know even Doro, we really appreciate that. Doro loves her fans like nobody else I’ve ever seen.

I’m the same way. It’s a very humbling thing. We’re here because of them. That’s the bottom line. It ain’t like your ego gets in the room before you, essentially, because then you forget about it, in my opinion. Speaking like a New Yorker here. Very much grateful.

That’d be the overall word. Grateful.

Well awesome, thank you so much, and hey, we wish you the best of luck out on tour this year. Looking forward to your other project album coming up. Thanks for your time.

Yeah, and we’re on the Megadeth Megacruise. We’re on that too

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Interview - Junker Clothing Designs / Die Fast - Tod Junker

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hen it comes to looking like rock star, many people know the names Wornstar and Affliction. But I am here to tell all of you, there’s another option out there now that does unique, customized clothing that also has an ecoconscience. Junker Clothing Designs is the brain child of punk rocker Tod Junker of the band Die Fast. It’s clothing designed by a musician who knows how clothing needs to fit and perform on stage. Designs born out of necessity by a musician who’s already gone through all the trial and error with other clothing lines that didn’t fit the needs, or hold up well enough to justify the costs.

The clothing looks good, fits right and the fact that it’s super customizable should spark lots of interest by those who don’t want to show up in the same clothing to a show or simply look like they pulled the item off the rack and cashed out.

I recently sat down with Tod Junker to talk about the new clothing line and of course talk about the punk rock music that Die Fast has been making. See what Tod had to say below and I have linked both Junker Clothing Designs and Die Fast at the end of the interview so each of you can connect with them.

Diane Webb for YesterdazeNews: So let me ask you, Die Fast, punk, crazy insane music. Love that style. Then the jump to clothing. How did that progression happen?

customizable? If people bring some of their favorite stuff in, can they bring it to you and have you guys mock it up for some crazy design they’ve got in their head?

Tod: Well, I think it’s because I grew up on the Dead Boys and New York Dolls and a bunch of bands that were punk and/or fringe glam.

So when I finally came to L.A. in 2001, I was like, “Well, I should really make pants,” but I didn’t know how, and someone showed me how.

So it was more as a way to be in a band and then try to have cool clothes than be a fashion designer, more or less.

Yeah, I’ve had people bring in their dad’s biker jacket. Then we’ll cut it down and refit it to them and add patches or zippers or pockets.

I’ve had people bring me their bed sheets. We started doing these bed sheet liners. Because people was like, “I grew up with these bed sheets. It’s Strawberry Shortcake. I don’t know, I’ve loved them my whole life.” So we’ll put them in as a liner or try to turn that into a piece of fashion. But pretty much anything people can throw at me, I love to try and figure it out and take a challenge.

Did you ever expect you’d be a fashion designer?

Tod: No. No. No. I think the only reason it worked is because I had no idea ever that I ever wanted to do it at all.

That’s cool. So what is your favorite part about the designing? Is there a specific style or a specific ... like tops or bottoms? What really drives you in the designs?

So what do you want people to know about your clothing brand?

I think what they should know about Junker is it’s probably about 80% recycled stuff. It’s made by a musician for musicians with a lot of the things that musicians have to do kept in mind. Like, if you’re touring in the summer or if you’re touring in the winter, it has to be stretchy or not stretchy. There’s a lot of things to consider that normal clothing brands don’t really think about it because it’s not ... Normal clothing brands are not athletic wear, but rock people are wearing high-end clothing that is also weird, kind of athletic wear.

Actually, that’s a really good question. I think the thing that drives me the most is when you just have to have someone come to you with an idea that you’ve never done before. So I would say I’m more driven by the new stuff that I haven’t done. So, recently, I just learned about casting armor pieces and incorporating lights and electronics into wearable art that has to be on the stage. But I think if I was left to my own devices to do whatever I wanted to do, it’d probably look like a mix between Mad Max and GWAR and something else, probably.

Somewhere around there.

I have 18 years experience doing that. So I think they should know that I’ve been around for 18 years. I know what it’s like to do a lot crazy stuff on stage. I know what it’s like to have to have this stuff last for a tour. And mostly in Texas, and then mostly handmade and recycled. There’s only like three people that work at the shop. We’re a very small operation.

That would be really cool. It’s like the apocalyptic and crazy at the same time.

So you do a lot of the recycle. Let me ask, do you guys do

Well, Die Fast has been around for probably over 10 years in

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Yeah, yeah. I just really like to make stuff look old and rusty.

So, music side. What do you have going on music lately?

different formations. So we just released this album called Welcome to Hollywood that we recorded with Andrew Murdock. He was the producer for Avenged Sevenfold’s first three records. Then he did some Alice Cooper stuff. Then he did, I think, Godsmack’s first record or two records.

So what Die Fast is doing right now is just working in a new guitar player, this guy named Mr. Glenn. Glenn normally is on tour with Richie Ramone. So he’s playing with us now, and then February 3rd we’re going to record a couple new songs.

Right on. What do you think about the music industry today?

going to have to figure it out for themselves and do it for themselves.

But the great thing that’s happened now is that, because of the internet ... I mean, you’re never going to have that kind of audience that you get on the internet, mostly for free. I just think it’s about people just promoting their own stuff. I think the music business is good maybe if you’re Ariana Grande or a pop star, where they’re creating these projects that they put bazillions of dollars into.

Where people can find your Junker designs. Let us know, socials, website, what have you got for them?

I think the best is junkerdesigns.com. I would go straight there.

Then, on Instagram, it’s @todjunker. So that’s T-O-D-J-U-N-K-E-R.

You know, I don’t know. It’s really weird because I came from the rock side of things into the fashion business. So I don’t know Die Fast is on Facebook, and the Facebook tag is @diefastusa. anything about the fashion business, and I’ve never really learned all that much about the music business.

Check out Junker Designs, check out Die Fast. Tod, thanks so much for your time today.

I mean, I think record companies seem like they’re dead. Then it’s just back to what it probably should have been, is people are just

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Interview - HellHeart - Alie Grabowski

At

NAMM I learned about an up and coming metalcore

band from Sacramento. As luck would have it, I got hit up by their street team and they showed me one of their videos, and I have to tell you all, I was immediately interested, because watching it, I was thinking of the Butcher Babies, Arch Enemy, early Evanescence, Jinger and one of my Swedish up and coming favorites, Zephyra. There’s some crazy, intense music coming from this band and I thought it would be good for

Photo by Julian Aguilar

the readers to get to know their amazing frontwoman Alie Grabowski. Alie and I sat down for a chat to introduce you all to HellHeart. Check out the interview below then head over to www.hellheartmusic.com to check out their music.

Diane Webb for YesterdazeNews Magazine: How you doing today, Alie Grabowski?

that, hey, they are a great artist, but they’re doing their own thing. And I think that that’s what you guys have done. You’ve made your own sound, and it’s fantastic.

Alie Grabowski: I’m doing pretty well.

Thank you so much.

How HellHeart come up with your metal sound?

It’s kind of an integration of everything that we would all listen to.

Because I know my guitar player, Jess, he’s definitely more on the hardcore end of things. Brad, he’s our lead guitar player, he’s on the power metal side of things. Kevin, our drummer, is on the emo end of things. I’m on a completely different spectrum entirely, as is Jeff, and it’s we all come together to create something that we’re proud of, and at the end of the day we can be like, “Oh, they pulled from Beartooth. Oh, they pulled from Dream Theater. Oh, they pulled from Ice Nine Kills.” Like it’s something that we wanted to emulate within us, “They pulled from A Day to Remember. They pulled from Arch Enemy.” It’s kind of how we sort of emulated our style. The way that we want to describe it is, A Day to Remember and Arch Enemy had a baby, and that baby is HellHeart.

I like that you say that because a lot of bands get caught up in where they want to emulate something and they end up sounding like a specific band. You guys don’t do that. You have a very blended sound. You can hear the elements of familiarity, but it’s not, “Hey, well, they just pulled this ... “ Everyone’s going on right now about Greta Van Fleet and Led Zeppelin. I just think

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You do the great, cool, clean vocals and they’re real harmonic.

Then you just go into these insane, bloodcurdling screams that, literally, my hair on my arms stood up, and I was like, “Yes!” How did you decide to go into that vocal style? Did it just come to you or was it something you planned?

It kind of just came to me one day. I was watching the final episode of Asking Alexandria back when that song had recently come out and I was like “this sounds cool”. At that time I was in Choker, I was like “I know I can do this, and I know I can be Mariah Carey if I really wanted to but I want to be Danny right now” so I kind of looked up how to do it and then how to do it properly and then after that it sort of became, kind of like an everyday training process when my family wasn’t home. (laughs) That’s awesome, and when we talked a little bit before we started the interview that you’ve been doing vocal in choirs and stuff, most of your life, so you have some real technical training already.

Yes, I’ve been singing for about 18 years, and screaming for 5.

Is there anything special you do for your screaming to keep your you’re going to be, where you want to be, in the growth and voice from getting hurt? progression of your career and your style.

A lot of Throat Coat, and cough drops actually help me quite a bit too, because it’s just something to moisturize my throat really, and that helps me out a lot. Sometimes I’ll just do honey straight, it tastes horrible to me, but (laughing) if it’s something that I’ve gotta do, I’ve also cut out caffeine entirely cause at the end of 2017 I went to my doctor cause there was something wrong and I got a vocalist’s worst nightmare.

Yes, yes.

The music that we have out now is kind of, a past chapter, because member’s have switched around and everything like that. I’m not ungrateful for those members cause I love them regardless as to what had happened, regardless of the past, it’s there for a reason.

This new music is an entirely new chapter. It’s literally something no one has ever heard before. Aside from what you heard today.

Yeah, and whether you want to be female fronted or known as female fronted or not, the whole part of it that you are the front person and you are female, it kind of just puts you there anyway.

Do you want the people out there to know you guys as a female fronted band, or do you just want them to come out and rage with you guys and go “Damn, this is great metal”?

A little bit of both. (laughs) A little bit of both. I know personally I would like to be known as female fronted, that way I can support the So I had to cut caffeine, I cut out the majority of my dairy, I cut out so younger girls, because my younger sister, she doesn’t know this, but much just to be able to keep doing what I love. And it’s not only been she is the huge inspiration. We get, we argue all the time, and I’m a healthier life, but it’s been more beneficial, not for myself, but for like “dude, you don’t know that I’m actually doing this to show you the band as well. that you can pretty much do whatever you want to. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, and if anybody tries to be like okay, I’m gonna go Now, you guys have an EP out, and it’s a couple years old, and put my boots on, I’m gonna go put my cleats on, I’m gonna go throw you’re working on new music. What do you want people to know my sandals on, I’m gonna go wax my surfboard. I can do whatever I about the music that you have out now and what’s coming. want, and there’s nothing you can tell me about it.

Yeah.

Yes, west coast is definitely the goal this year. The gas money is definitely a thing. (laughing)

So whether you want to be included or not, you’re always going to be a role model for these young girls. Even the young guys are coming up making music, because people are going to find something in what you’re doing and I don’t think the term female fronted is necessarily a bad thing, but there’s a lot of people who are like “I don’t want to be known as that,” but it’s just more or less it’s about being that avenue for other people to discover music. Which is really important.

Support your artist’s fans.

Come out and rage is all I ask. (laughs)

Of course, please do. Support your local band, and if there’s a band that you like at a show, go buy a t-shirt. If you can’t afford a t-shirt, $5 for an EP. It’s, it might now seem like it goes a long way, but trust me, and believe me as someone who’s been doing this for about 5 years, it goes a long way.

Does HellHeart have any shows coming up soon?

Awesome. Now I know you were saying you guys want to start doing some more touring outside of this area. Right now you guys are doing shows in Sacramento and in California, you’re looking to do West coast this year, or later this year?

How do you feel about the current state of the metal music genre?

Our next show coming up is actually in February, on the 16th, at Toot’s Tavern in Crockett. It’s 2 hours from where we’re at, so about an 8 hour drive from L. A. And that, I’m actually really excited about that show because it’s our first show of 2019.

Cool, and you’ve got more in the plans or you have more planned already?

I’m in love with it. It has definitely opened up a lot more in past years.

Okay I’m gonna talk about my old band here for a little bit, they There’s definitely some stuff that I can’t talk about yet, but one weren’t as open minded as a lot of us are now, and I just love how show that we’re really excited for, which is in Fresno if anybody is open minded everybody is today. interested, we are playing with Secrets on June 1 at Full Circle.

You felt like it limited you on what you could do?

Yes, very much so. I was about 15 or 16 and I was still impressionable with a lot of that stuff. So, I don’t want to say that it kind of stunted me, but I could be that much more of the artist that I am now if they hadn’t had limits on the style.

Alie, thank you so much for your time. It was great getting to know you, and readers, go check out HellHeart. There’s going to be new music coming, check out the stuff they’ve got now, it’s on Spotify and videos on YouTube and at www.hellheartmusic.com.

And I could see where you could say where it would stunt where

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The winter NAMM Show 2019 has come and gone. As with each year, there’s were many new equipment debuts, artist demonstrations, educational opportunities and tons of opportunities to network.

We arrived on Wednesday to take part in the annual media preview night where a few vendors have the opportunity to showcase their product to media before the mania of the full NAMM Show begins.

This year there were a number of vendors who caught my attention during preview night.

First up was Gibson Guitars. With their openly noted financial troubles in 2018, then the subsequent reorganization of the company and brand, there was a lot of curiosity in their relaunch. We got our first glance at the media preview and the fun of Jared James Nichols doing a live demo, then a broader exposure during the Gibson NAMM Jam relaunch party. We also hit their booth during NAMM, which was a constantly busy booth as Gibson buyers and players were interested in learning more about the new direction of the company. James Curleigh had a lot to say about the reorganization and the biggest take away we heard was how Gibson is streamlining to make it easier for buyers and retail stores to make it easier to conduct business with them, which has long been a constant complaint for many retail stores in doing business with Gibson. So we are hopeful for their relaunch to stick as it’s a brand people have loved for many years now. We will be watching over the coming months to see how it all unfolds.

Another item that caught my eye personally, was the fully folding travel guitar being offered by Ciari Guitars. In most cases we’ve seen over the years, it’s always been some small, awkward traveling practice guitar, but in this case this guitar is aimed at being a fully functioning guitar you can fold the neck on, then extend it and play at your next show. Something that will make it easier for artists who don’t have much room for gear when traveling, but still need the ability to perform a show. This concept certainly caught the attention of many in the media!

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Media preview had a well versed display from technology driven gear like in ear monitors from Sennheiser, guitar pedals from makers Niexi and Morley, Peavey Amps, and Dennon DJ standalone DJ systems. For stages there were unique trusses from Cosmic Truss.

When it came to new musical gear, media got to take a closer look at items like hand painted Saxophones from Chateau, acoustic guitars from Collings Guitars and Cordoba, bass guitars by Prestige Guitars, and electrics by Gibson and D’Angelico.

There was also a cable tuned drum system from Welch Tuning Systems that I personally thought was a great concept that will save drummers and their techs a ton of time by the simple turning of an on-board cable and gear mechanism that turns tuning into an easy process.

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When it came to the opening day of the winter NAMM Show, there were thousands of attendees who came in one capacity or another.

Whether there as a seller, buyer, demonstrator, artist, media, guest or any other capacity, one thing was clear; everyone was ready to either check out the new gear or tell people about it.

On my flight out of Seattle I had the lucky circumstance to run into part of the Roland Cloud team and we talked about their product and one of my first stops on day one was to check out the Roland Cloud, an evolving cloud-based suite of high-resolution software synthesizers, drum machines, and sampled instruments for modern creators, to see it in action. Roland is definitely stepping up to make their presence known by offering something that’s highly customizable and on the tech side, a product that users need.

can’t get to traditional classes to learn to play, so we wanted to dig deeper into it.

What really caught my attention is how basic it starts for learners to how advanced the training goes, also aligned with an online private community where users can ask questions and get help. Fender was awesome and set us up with a subscription to test Fender Play out so that we can give all of our readers an honest review of how it works for us. So come back and check in as we test it out and progress so we can tell you what we really think of the platform and if we would recommend it to you. We will give you an honest review with the pros and cons we find along the way. So check back!

I visited with many vendors this year, from start-ups, boutique guitars (one my personal favorites, OD Guitars was back this year My next stop was Fender Guitars. Fender has a new line of guitars with his incredible line), tried and true brands like Elixr, ESP, Gator, out this year that are going to be a hot commodity, their Acoustic Orange, EBS, Soundbrenner, and many, many more. Everyone had Electric line called the Acoustasonic. I got to see them in action and something to entice retail buyers to put their orders in. Floyd Rose these are beautiful guitars that sound amazing. Uniquely light weight also had his latest guitar on hand to show it off, it’s pretty cool and and a price point that starst at just under a couple thousand dollars corrects bad picking habits many players tend to fall into. to take one home, Fender has completely hit a homerun with this new line. I’ve long been drooling for the one of the Gretsch Acoustic Aside from the gear side of the NAMM Show, I chat with a ton of Electric guitars, but I have seriously been swayed by Fender. artists, and caught fans meeting their idols too. A number of signing sessions this year that pulled in long lines were the metal queen Another product that has been out for a bit of time but something we DORO with Tommy Bolan at Morely, Glenn Hughes at Orange Amps, haven’t worked with yet, Fender Play. This is the Fender online guitar Phil Collen (Def Leppard), It was another amazing year and we have teaching platform. It’s something I’d heard about but just never got tons of photos of gear, fans, artists and the NAMM Show available on back to it until getting a demo of it by the actual instructors of the our website at www.YESTERDAZENEWS.com. program while at NAMM 2019. We know there are many people who

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She Rocks Awards 2019

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he She Rocks Awards is an event that empowers and recognizes women in music. This year’s She Rocks Award show was held on January 28th during NAMM week in Anaheim, CA at the House of Blues.

It was a star studded event that brought out many artists, industry professionals and fans who wanted to see some amazing artists put on performances and be recognized by the She Rocks Awards organization.

The full list of this years honorees included: •Terri Nunn, lead singer of the iconic electro-pop band, BERLIN •Macy Gray, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and actress •Lisa Loeb, Platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning singer songwriter, touring artist and author •Nita Strauss, acclaimed solo artist and guitarist for Alice Cooper •Erika Ender, award-winning and chart topping composer, singer, co-writer of the hit “Despacito” •Dana DuFine, VP Global Content and development AEG Facilities •Dale Krevens, vice president of Tech 21 •Lynette Sage, art director of Reverb

The evening started off with a Red Carpet event outside of the venue.

Honorees, performers and industry executives had the opportunity to walk the red carpet and interact with media who were there to cover the event. Many stopped for photos and interviews. We covered this event and talked with a number of honorees. One thing for sure, this was an evening that everyone was excited to be a part of.

She Rocks Awards Red Carpet Interviews:

Photo by Andie Mills

•Samantha Pink, director of business operations at JAM industries USA •Terri Winston, executive director, Women’s Audio Mission •Janet Bill Rich, Manage This Media •Bonnie Gallanter, co-producer of the She Rocks Awards and owner of Muse Artist Management

Diane Webb for YesterdazeNews Magazine: We’re talking with Rews, and they just put out their album ‘Pyro’ last week, and their single “Shine” is out. You guys have this really cool sound, and you guys are a duo. How did you guys decide to be a duo? And how much tracking are you using to make that sound happen?

REWS: Well whenever we got together, we sort of just thought of the ... It actually just works really well, the two of us. We sort of just experimented a little bit with the sounds and did a little bit of looping, and a little bit of tracking. There’s not loads going on, but we just love a big wall of sound.

Yeah, we didn’t feel that there was anything lacking, there was loads of energy. We both really felt kind of submerged in the rock energy. So yeah, there’s only a minimal bit of track and pretty much everything you see is live raucousness.

You guys went on tour with Halestorm. How big was that for you guys, and people for learning who you are?

It was epic, yeah. ‘Cause we weren’t sure what way we were going to go down, because we were the first band out of three. And normally, you don’t always get a full room, but every night we got a full room and people responded to it really well, and we got some new fans.

That’s awesome.

REWS: L.:Collette Williams, R.:Shauna Tohill

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I think being able to play on the same stage as Lizzy Hale every night was fantastic and for us, that’s a bit of a dream come true.

Now you ladies are out here at NAMM this week. Is there anything special that you’re doing while you’re here besides She Rocks, ‘cause I know it’s a great place for vendors and sponsorship. Anything at all?

We’re doing daily performances on the Marshall stage. They’re our record label so we’re supporting the brand. They’ve been fantastic, so we’ve been showcasing really. And we’re just wandering around, meeting some new friends and yeah, it’s just great to see all the new products that are being launched. It’s sort of inspiring us for writing our second album as well, so yeah.

YesterdazeNews Magazine: Hi Nick, how are you doing tonight?

Nick Bowcott: Very well, thank you.

What does it mean for you to be involved tonight here with the She Rocks Award?

It’s an honor. I mean, I think it’s a ... People ask me what do I think of the awards, and my simple first answer to that question is, it’s about frickin’ time. I really is, you know. Females have been kicking butt for years, not just in rock but other forms of music, and it’s great that now they’re getting the attention they truly deserve. And the fact So we’re in January at the end, and summer festivals are already that it’s an awards show focused around that is great. being booked. What do you guys have going on? Are you guys doing anything back in the UK, or at this point, do you guys know Do you feel it takes away from the men? Because, I actually have of any plans for tours coming up? had readers that have said, “Well, isn’t there an award just for men?”

There’s only a couple that we can announce so far. We’re doing Camden Rocks in London which is a really good one for us. There’s Yeah, most of the awards shows out there are just for men, if you’re a few, yeah. There’s that and also just going back to Marshall again, honest, ladies. they’re doing a launch we’re going to be involved in that is going to be amazing. But yeah, there’s a few festivals that we can’t yet That’s an interesting jux ... What’s the saying? Damned if you do, announce. But they’re coming. damned if you don’t. It’s the same people who’ll probably go, “How come there’s not an award show for women?” People like being And we’re hoping- We’re working on a 2019 tour for the US. Want to upset about stuff I think. come back.

Absolutely. Is there anybody here tonight performing that you’re One last thing. Quick shout out for your fans. What do you have looking forward to most? to say to them?

I don’t even know who’s playing to be honest with you. I’m here to We love you. Thank you. You rock. Thank you so much for present to Nita Strauss, so I’m hoping she’s going to play, because she supporting us. kicks butt.

She’s the cover of our magazine latest magazine issue, so yeah, we love Nita. She’s an amazing.

Nita rules. I had the honor of working for Marshall for 25 years, and the last three artists I brought into the fold were Lzzy Hale, an amazing singer, amazing front lady, and a great damn guitar player.

Lita Ford and Nita. Nita was my final one. The reason she came in, I just told a lot of people, it’s not just what she does on stage and in the studio, it’s how she handles herself and presents herself off stage.

She’s inspirational. She actually plays it forward, not just through her music but through her words, and that’s why I love her to death.

Yeah, she’s an amazing guitar player. But, there’s more to it than that.

That’s why she’s the Inspire Award. Because, everyone that puts a record out, you can argue it inspires in some way shape or form, but when they take that extra step that makes ordinary extraordinary, that’s the difference, and she’s that lady.

She absolutely is. Well, thank you for talking to me and have a great time at the She Rocks tonight.

Nick Bowcott

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each other and be here and just enjoy each other’s power. It only strengthens us all. I think it’s amazing.

Absolutely. Along the way in your career, have you been told “No” a lot by men, and in the industry? How did you navigate through the diversity that and then to get where you are today?

You know, it’s funny, we’re doing a song tonight that’s off my last record, it’s called Pretty Good for a Girl, and I wrote it just because I had to write it in a song because so many people had said that me.

They’d come up after a show and they’d look at me and they’d go, “Wow, you’re pretty good for a girl.” You know? And they would just be so surprised, and they really meant well, you know, it was really a compliment. But, to me, I would just stand there and go, “Yeah, thanks.”

So you have to write that kind of stuff in a song every once in a while and kind of make it bigger so that men and women hear it and go, “Um, yeah, that does happen.” And, you know, at a certain point, it’s cool to play a saxophone as a woman, or rock out on a guitar as a YesterdazeNews Magazine: What does it mean to you for women woman, or do whatever. And so, yeah, I think we all get the word out to get noticed in this way? in our different ways, but I’ve been told “No” by everyone. I’ve been told “You can’t” be everyone. And, you know, I stand here in this Mindi Abair: You know what, we need to celebrate women. We room of women and, boy, no one listened in this room. Everyone can need to lift up each other and this is such an amazing night for that. and they do and it’s amazing.

I wish it happened every night, but it’s so special to get together with women that I love, women that I admire, and that we can lift up Thank you so much.

YesterdazeNews Magazine: How did you decide to switch from the acting to the music?

Jen Lilley: Well, I’ve always wanted to be a singer. And then if you remember, a lot of Days fans knows that Eric Martsolf, who plays Brady Black, my TV lover.

He and I did, you know, Baby it’s Cold Outside, and then I ended up doing a Christmas album, and people, like you, just kept asking me, “When are you going to do your own album?” And so, the fans really put it in my head that it was something that I should pursue. So I started working on it about three years ago. And I’m really excited for it to come out, because we took our time with it, you know? And really put our heart and soul into it.

And it wasn’t a rushed project, and it’s ... has all these world class musicians. I mean, Eric Wortham on keys, and Peter Randall on bass, they work for Adele. And Rosie Danvers wired strings, M.B Gordy on percussion. It was just like the most amazing team assembly, and you can hear the soul, like you’ll hear tonight with these real musicians, you know? When you hear a real musician play, there are inflections and things in their notes that really reflect the soul of the person versus auto-tune, you know? And the robot music that’s like top 40s right now, that I’m really tired of, to be honest. So, I’m excited about it. I hope people like it, it’s definitely a labor of love, and it’s about love, lost, and relationships. It’s something we can all relate to.

What does the She Rocks Awards mean to you?

Woman supporting woman, you know? And woman in music, which we’ve always been in music. And I mean, this is my second year here

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celebrating, and it’s such a fun event. I have so many friends that are here. I’m really excited to support Mindy Abair, she’s a saxophone player. She was on my Christmas album, and she’s phenomenal.

She’s so talented. And so nice. She’s genuinely just so nice. Which makes you like her even more, I hope. For me, I like her even more ‘cause she’s nice.

Thank you so much. I’m so excited to hear your album that’s coming out.

AIZA

Terri Nunn

Shelly Peiken

Laura Clapp

The Command Sisters

Laura Whitemore

Judith Hill

Lyndsey Parker

DianĂąa

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Gigi Rich

Lynette Sage

Bonnie Gallanter

Nita Strauss

Michelle Lewis

Christine Devine and Sean McNabb

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Lisa Loeb

YesterdazeNews Magazine: Being the brother and sister of Janice Joplin, what did you guys think when she started making music? Did you think that she was just kind of out of her mind because she’s just got such a great sound? What was it like for you to see that first hand?

Michael Joplin: Wow. Laura Joplin: Normal.

Normal?

Michael Joplin: A little bit actually because of her directions already but, as a teenager, it was the coolest thing ever to hear my sister on the radio. It was wonderful.

Laura and Michael Joplin

What was the best memory that you have for her musically that she just celebrated making herself a success?

Laura Joplin: Oh I think the song Me and Bobby McGee, just always really kicked it up a notch. There’s something about blending all the different types of music together.

Michael Joplin: Her being on the Ed Sullivan show was, if you know anything about that. She calling home and then everybody around the television.

One last question? Did you ever think that today her music would still be so relevant?

Laura Joplin: We’ve been surprised and excited for her for many years.

Michael Joplin: For many decades, right.

Laura Joplin: And it’s a wonderful honor.

Michael Joplin: Wonderful.

YesterdazeNews Magazine: How do you feel about the She Rocks I was actually inspired by the kids music that I write, because with Awards and what the organization does for women in music? the kids music, whether I’m writing it alone or collaborating, we go way outside of the box. We write about stuff you would never think Lisa Loeb: I really like the way it brings people together in the about writing when you’re a singer/songwriter, and also explore community. People behind the scenes, people in the spotlight, people different genres. And I feel like with my grownup music, I’m really in all walks of the industry life. focusing in telling the story more, and really being in touch with where I am now, which is very different from when you’re a 21 year I also like that it attracts people who are interested in being in the old or 25 year old or 28 year old. It’s an interesting place to be. industry. Although I don’t normally like separating myself out as a woman in the industry, I do think there is a great strength in bringing What is the best thing that music has done for you in your life? us together. There are things that we go through as women, whether I like to admit it or not, and also as a mom, a wife, you know, a I’m going to say it on stage, but I’ll tell you also. It’s funny, I would traveling musician, that it’s different for a guy or for somebody who’s think that it would be, you know, playing in front of lots of people got a different life. and selling tons of records. But actually, it is connecting with likeminded people. It’s like, I grew up in Dallas, and it was the ‘80s, it So, finding like-minded people who have similar lives in some ways, was pretty conservative. I had my friends, though, who were not the who are in the entertainment business and in the music industry, I conservative ones. But when I went off to the East Coast, I felt like, think it’s a really important thing.

I’m a cat and these are cats! I was a cat living in a dog’s world, now I’m a cat with cats!

Your music house always had such a beautiful sound to it, and it’s really meaningful. Do you write really a lot from the heart for I think what I love about being a professional musician, I do love all your music wise, or is it just experiences around you that really the going backstage and being on stage and writing music, and really inspired you to write? being in a room writing songs is definitely magical. But just being in a community with like-mind people that you can talk to you ... that I think especially some of my older music that sounds like it’s heart connection is really what’s important, the connection with other on my sleeve and it’s really about me, a lot of that is crafted, maybe professionals, the connection with fans, and even just the simple inspired here and there with things that I experienced. human connections that I get walking through my life, which is on airplanes. I get to do all kinds of stuff.

But I have to say, the music I’m writing now is more based in my reality now and where I’m coming from now. You’ll hear that in my But that real human connection, and that the boundaries are kind of new record that comes out probably later this year. I’m working right gone. now on that.

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GIBSON

GIBSON NAMM JAM 2019

’s opening party kicked off the week of NAMM for Gibson with a star studded event at the City Grove of Anaheim that ran late into the evening. Gibson’s NAMM JAM was one of the hot ticket, by invite only events that people wanted to take part in.

Krieger, Emily Wolfe, Black Pistol Fire, Cam, Jared James Nichols, Toby Lee, Lauren Ruth Ward, Van Wilks and more. The “house band” was comprised of Jimmy Vivino, Kenny Aronoff, Darryl Jones, and Jeff Young.

The opening party started off with the comedic host Jeff Garlin then an opening presentation by Gibson President and CEO James ‘JC’ Curleigh where he talked a little about the new direction of Gibson as a company and his excitement for what the future holds.

It was a night packed full of amazing performances, classic Gibson guitars and fun to be had by all who were in attendance. We are thrilled for the new energy surrounding Gibson Guitars and look forward to see what the future holds for the company. We know there are many musicians out there who are just as thrilled to know they will be able to continue to play Gibson for years to come!

The evening then progressed onto the main event, the live music which included some of the most legendary artists! Performing this evening were Billy Gibbons, Nancy Wilson, Peter Frampton, Robby

Enjoy some live photos from the Gibson NAMM JAM!

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weden Rock Festival has finalized the 2019 lineup and has moved onto finalizing the running order. With that announcement, there is some good news and some bad news for fans as they’ve started discovering scheduling conflicts for the bands they desperately want to see this year! Here at YesterdazeNews Magazine, I was not spared the conflicts as there are a number of bands that will require creative solutions to catch their sets as they play at the same time, but on different stages across the large festival grounds. Running shoes are the must have footwear this year, again.

The good news for fans, the lineup is amazing again this year. The headliners for 2019 are KISS, Def Leppard and Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow, but there’s a number of bands that demand headline the crowds that are sure to delight! One hot band this year is without a doubt, Slayer as they are wrapping up their final world tour before calling it quits. Of course there are a ton of bands that are fan favorites. Bands like Dream Theater, Disturbed, ZZ Top, Behemoth, Arch Enemy, Three Days Grace to name a few of the many. But when it comes to Sweden Rock and the fans that take in this festival every year, there’s a strong calling for local favorites, exclusive reunion tours, once in a life time one off gigs and shows you won’t see every day.

This year, there are a number of sets that are sure to be the fan favorites. The reunion tour of Easy Action is by far one of the shows many fans will be headed to watch. Easy Action is putting on a special reunion tour in 2019, even as I was interviewing Kee Marcello in early December he told me it was coming but made me promise to kept it under wraps until it was officially announced.

The announcement was still a secret to the public for a couple more weeks after, yet fans had all been asking me if there was any hope of new music from Easy Action, little did they know that instead of new music, it would be a reunion tour!

Speaking of reunions, LOK will also be doing reunion tour in 2019 and Sweden Rock booked them too! There first live show in 17 years will be one not to miss! Fans have definitely got some unique shows to witness this year.

Steering away from reunions, there’s the final tours for a few bands, Slayer and Krokus. Fans will definitely be catching their beloved bands to see them one last time and make one last memory with them!

There’s also a number of new bands and newer bands performing this year and I tend to catch these bands in Sweden because it’s rare to catch many of these bands in North America. Some of these bands this year I am hoping to squeeze into the schedule are: Gathering of Kings, The Night Flight Orchestra, Lillasyster, Thundermother, Dynazty, James Holkworth and the Coolbenders, and Beast In Black.

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There are also the tried and true favorites too, Saxon, Royal Republic, Hammerfall, Behemoth, At The Gates, Death Angel, Krisiun, Amon Amarth, Magnum and The Wild. For those who don’t know Jared James Nichols yet, he’s incredible and high energy, he’s an artist to catch this year!

There are a number of bands that need to be checked out before hand to decide who really needs to be seen and who sadly gets missed this year. And as always, there are the NEMIS bands that have to be discovered. The New Music In Sweden program that brings a number of up and coming Swedish bands to Sweden Rock Festival each year, is one of my personal favorites. Every year I discover bands that I wouldn’t have without the NEMIS program and Sweden Rock working together to give them a voice.

No matter which shows get seen, this year’s Sweden Rock Festival is going to be another great event. Tickets are not completely sold out yet, but pretty close. The options still available at the time of writing this preview were: 1 day Thursday tickets, 1 day Thursday VIP tickets, 1 day Saturday tickets, 1 day Saturday VIP tickets, and full 4 day VIP tickets.

The official word from Sweden Rock Festival is that there are very few remaining tickets left, so if you have any hopes in attending this year and still need a ticket, you need to do that right away.

Many hotels are completely booked as well. There are still camping options and some hotels available, but choices are getting low.

Will I be seeing you there? I hope you say yes. Sweden Rock Festival is one of the best festivals around the globe. It’s packed with great music, an awesome festival site, some of the friendliest people to share time at a festival with and an incredible staff who run it. If you are looking for a destination music festival to enjoy during summer and you love to travel, Sweden Rock Festival is one to visit!

For tickets to Sweden Rock Festival visit: www.swedenrock.com

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Festival Preview - Helgeåfestivalen Helgeåfestivalen has announced the first 10 out of 30 bands for their 2019 festival. Taking place July 4-6 in southern Sweden, this year’s festival is starting to heat up!

With Corroded releasing their new album in January and Battle Beast set to release their new album on March 22nd, there’s going to be some new music tied into these two bands sets. Of course there’s Dee Snider and Mustache who both had new releases in 2018 as well that had some great music.

Also on the lineup are Hardcore Superstar, Wilmer X. Alien, Björn Rosenström, Dead April and Gul Front.

Tickets available now at: www.helgeafestivalen.se

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Entertainment - Monster JAM

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onster Jam’s monster truck show blasted into Seattle in January with lots of action for fans to take in. This year Seattle lucked out and got to witness a never attempted stunt as Grave Digger did a full back flip during the weekend event.

Not only did fans get to witness that back flip, but also a second unexpected full back flip by Max-D! One back flip was unimaginable, but two in one night was simply unheard of until this unfolded before us! Its always a great time out and fun event for the youngest to the oldest fans.

Check out what all events Monster Jam has going on in 2019 at www.monsterjam.com. There’s sure to be an event near you. So make the time to go out and enjoy it! For those of you who do not have children, you do not need children to enjoy the roar of the trucks, the smell of the fuel or the watching the dirt fly and cars being crushed. There’s even some great music blasting over the sound system. This is an event that takes everyone back to their youth so go and enjoy it!

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