Jack Andrad (Uncrowned) & Random Questions

MsBrandyRock: I found out a lot of ‘things’ about Uncrowned that I did not know while doing some research. Songs have been featured on MTV’s The Real World. Do ya’ll think this helps gain fans or people just hear a song and that’s that?

Jack Andrad: I think it helps, people hear the song and look it up on line, it definitely doesn't hurt

MsBrandyRock: Like subliminal messaging?

Jack Andrad: Sure, whatever helps get the word out, ha ha

 Photo by Mikki Stacks (Sunday's Dreams) taken in Columbia, SC

MsBrandyRock: What is in the glass in the picture on Uncrowned’s website? www.uncrowned.com

Jack Andrad: Ahh yes, that would be Vodka and cranberry

(Random Question out of my bag ha ha) (Tuna) Do you believe in love? No

MsBrandyRock: One thing that caught my eye is how the band got its name. So how did the name come about?

Jack Andrad: The name came from one of Charles Bukowski's poems about a fighter, it seem to fit so we embraced it.

MsBrandyRock: I looked up definition of uncrowned and it said “having the power or influence of a monarch or other prominent figure but not the title”. I personally think that is fitting.

Jack Andrad: I actually had not heard that definition, I like it!

MsBrandyRock: What was it like traveling 70,000 miles and playing 120 shows in 2007?

Jack Andrad: Well, we're still doing it, we actually have increased the miles and the shows since. We love being on the road, if you are a serious band, you're either on the road, writing music or recording.

MsBrandyRock: Did this have an impact on becoming the 14th most requested band overall at Sirius Octane for the 1st half of 2008.

Jack Andrad: I think touring has a tremendous impact with the fans, if you put on a great live show, it doen't go un-noticed, spread the love, is what I say.

MsBrandyRock: Did ya’ll put out the EP on your own? And can fans online still purchase the EP?

Jack Andrad: We did, fans can come to shows or purchase online from our website.

(Random Question 2): (Scott) What are you plans for tonight?

I'm going to hang out and check out Morgan Rose's (Sevendust) new drum kit, he's recording next door to us.

MsBrandyRock: Is Uncrowned now officially signed to Bieler Brothers or is it some sort of distribution deal?

Jack Andrad: We are officially signed to Bieler Bros.

MsBrandyRock: Since people are asking, I feel I know why, but what is taking so long to release ‘Last Bit of Good and Evil’?

Jack Andrad: Well, being green as far as a record deal is concerned, we ran into some misunderstandings with the label, also we wanted to increase the amount of songs, and give the fans premium quality.

 Photo used with Jack's permission.

(Random Question 3): (Jack) What’s your favorite album/CD?

I think it would probably have to be The Verses by Slipknot.

MsBrandyRock: Uncrowned is defined as modern edge. How is this self titled and did you come up with it?

Jack Anrad: Modern Edge Metal is a moniker I came up with while trying to describe our sound to people, everyone always asks the dreaded question "So, what do you guys sound like?" That was my answer.

MsBrandyRock:Where ya’ll actually mentioned during The American Music Award’s broadcast on TV as being one of the 10 Hottest unsigned bands as chosen by CMJ and Dick Clark?

Jack Andrad: Indeed we were.

MsBrandyRock: Whose instrument is on display in Hard Rock Cafe’s memorabilia collection? Do you know who the only other unsigned band is/was?

Jack Andrad: One of the Gibson Les Pauls from my collection.

(Random Question 4) (Stephen) What is your shoe size? 9 1/2

MsBrandyRock: I remember the first time I drove to Atlanta after seeing ya’ll live, in the Spring of 2009, and I was so excited because I had the radio on and “Remember Your Ghost” came on. Is it a huge deal to bands from Atlanta to get radio play in Atlanta?

Jack Andrad: It really is a big deal, Atlanta is in the top 10 radio markets in the country, it's very though nowadays for a (Then Unsigned) band to get that kind of radio play.

MsBrandyRock: What do you wish would happen with regular radio?

Jack Andrad: I wish they would quit being pussies and take some chances, break new bands, introduce new music to the masses, in my opinion that is why radio came to be anyway.

MsBrandyRock: What was it like recently playing Uproar Fest with Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Hell Yeah, Halestorm….?

Jack Andrad: That was an awesome concert, thousands of people. The part that sticks in my mind was cooking steaks and hotdogs with Vinnie Paul from Hell Yeah after the show, that dude is RAD!

(Random Question 5) (Stu) What were you in a past life?

Lol, mmmhh I don't have any clue, probably a fly on the wall of the dressing room in which the thong was invented ha ha

MsBrandyRock: If Uncrowned could pick the perfect line up for the perfect tour what three bands would they be and why?

Jack Andrad: Ohh tough question, I think we would love to play with very successful bands that we love, while maintaining sonic sense. My choices would be, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for my Valentine.


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Special thanks to Jack for making me realize no one has ever taken me on a picnic.

Crushing Juliet "Press Release"

Crushing Juliet Adds Second Guitarist, Rounds out Five Piece Lineup

We're excited to announce that Mike Lovelace Jr. is the final piece of Crushing Juliet's fresh and on target sound. 

Mike brings past experice from time spent writing and album with Egpyt Central, as well as experience on the road touring with Joan Red.  We invite fans of these previous endeavors to take a listen to Crushing Juliet. 

Sunset Records/Interscope Artist, Crushing Juliet can be found at http://www.crushingjuliet.com/ , as well as on iTunes, Reverbnation, myspace, facebook and twitter.  Please mail inquiries to media@crushingjuliet.com.

~Edited by MsBrandyRock

Piggy D (Rob Zombie) Rock on the Range 2010

I had a chance to sit down with Rob Zombie's multi-talented bass player, Piggy D at Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio May 23rd.  The result is amazing! 

MsBrandyRock: Have you heard of Muen Magazine?

Piggy D: I have seen the name before, yeah!

MsBrandyRock:  You’re my forth live interview I have done.

Piggy D: Wow, Wow!

MsBrandyRock: I have a message to pass along to you from Eric13 of the Sex Slaves.  He said ‘thanks for being put on the list for the Philly show’. 

Piggy D:  oh yeah yeah yeah, of course.  That’s awesome, tell them I said hi. 

MsBrandyRock:  I love those guys!

Piggy D:  Yeah they’re awesome.

MsBrandyRock:  How did you get your stage name?

Piggy D:  The first touring band I was in, in ....Texas...., I was 16 years old.  The band was called Spunk.  All the guys in the band were 8 to 10 years older than me and their slogan that was painted on the side of their kick drum said ‘Burly Pig Rock’.  Since I was the youngest guy in the band they would haze me, kinda like fraternity initiations.  When I would fall asleep in the van, they would write with permanent maker ‘the burly piglet’ on my chest, draw a pig, cut my hair, all kinds of horrible things.  And it just stuck they called me Piglet.  And it stuck through every band I was in.  And I knew a hundred Matt’s so it was just easier, ‘oh this Piglet guy’. 

MsBrandyRock:  So you decided to go with Piggy instead of Piglet? 

Piggy D: Yeah, it would insinuate that not only am I very small but I’m also very young, which I’m not anymore. 

MsBrandyRock:  Have you ever heard of the local band Noise Auction?  They played early today and one of the guys, he’s really short and he goes by Shorty. 

Piggy D: Yeah that wouldn’t make sense if he was tall. 

MsBrandyRock:  They are going on a cruise with the Genitorturers. 

Piggy D:  Oh cool! 

MsBrandyRock:  How did you cross paths with Rob Zombie?

Piggy D:  I met him as a fan years ago, when I was a kid, several times.  But I met him through some mutual friends.  His old bass player and I got to be friends and actually did some writing together for Rob, 3 years prior to me being in the band.  His bass player called me up one day; I’m actually a guitar player.  He was like ‘hey I’m gonna join Ozzy’s band, do you want to take over for me?’  And I’m like well I’m not a bass player. 

MsBrandyRock:  Blasko right? 

Piggy D:  Yeah, and he was like you can do it.  He asked if I could be there tomorrow.  I was in ....Boston.... at the time making a record.  I flew out to LA and two weeks later I did David Letterman with Rob and that was it.  That was 4 and a half years ago. 

MsBrandyRock:  I recognize his name because of the band Hydrovibe, whose guitar player; Mat Dauzat was selected a while back to go on the road with Kelly Osbourne.

Piggy D:  Oh okay.

MsBrandyRock:  Since you were a fan of Rob Zombie, did you ever think that would happen?

Piggy D:  I did actually.  It’s a much longer story than I just made it out to be.  We were talking about me playing in the band before and it didn’t work out.  I always knew I would end up doing something with him.  I have this weird thing that happens to me, with the people that I appreciate the most, it’s happened with Alice Cooper several times, I always end up doing something with them.  The longer I celebrate something in my life, the more it comes back to me.  It’s very strange. 

MsBrandyRock:  That’s kinda like me being here right now.

Piggy D:  Yeah.  So I think that you can actually will things into existence.  And this is one of those things.  So yeah, I knew it was going to happen. 

MsBrandyRock:  Do you prefer to play guitar or bass?

Piggy D:  The more time that goes by, I’m actually considering myself a bass player.  Guitar is always going to be my first instrument and I write on a guitar.  When I’m at home I play guitar.  I don’t know.  I guess I like them both equally now. 

MsBrandyRock:  With your solo work, it’s you playing the guitar right?

Piggy D:  Yeah, it’s me doing everything except the drums. 

MsBrandyRock:  Do you have plans on touring with your solo work?

Piggy D:  Not really, at some point, yeah.  Maybe on the 2^nd or 3^rd record, I’ll go out and play some shows.  I stay so busy with Rob and all the other things we have going on, that I don’t have time to do it the right way.  And I would like to do it the right way.  I don’t want to get an acoustic guitar and go play coffee houses.

MsBrandyRock:  That would be interesting though, to say that you’re playing coffee houses that would be a lot of interesting press to do it like that. 

Piggy D:  Yeah, you never know.  Paul Stanley from Kiss once said ‘if a song doesn’t sound good on an acoustic guitar, it’s a crappy song’. 

MsBrandyRock:  Do you play any other instruments?

Piggy D: I play trumpet, tuba, and a little piano.

MsBrandyRock:  One of your songs, I don’t remember the name off the top of my head, but it sounds like saxophone in the background.

Piggy D:  Yeah, that was a friend of mine, Scott Gillman, he plays saxophone on a song called ‘Chemistry’.  It’s a The Replacements, Paul Westerberg, ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ type of song.  It’s a very ....Minneapolis.... sound and I wanted some horns on it.

MsBrandyRock:  Yeah, when I was listening to your solo work for the first time, I was thinking there is something for everyone in here.  And I wasn’t expecting that. 

Piggy D:  Thank you.

MsBrandyRock:  Ok so, you directed a 10 minute movie with three of Alice Cooper’s songs tied together.  How did you get into directing?

Piggy D:  It’s something I have kind of always done, on my own time, videos for indie artists and stuff like that.  Alice and I have a cool working relationship.  I’ll call him up and be like ‘hey I want to try this’.  And he’ll go ‘OK’.  I’ve been fortunate that he’s pretty open with everything I bring to the table.  My company did all the art and the promotional material for that record.  And we’ve done the costumes for the show and we do merchandise and everything.  We were just talking about videos and I said I could do it and I did it.   I know Alice Cooper better than I know most anything else.  So anytime I have to do anything for him, I’m like ‘I got it’; I know exactly what to do.  It’s like walking and chewing gum at the same time.  I can do it.   

MsBrandyRock:  How did Slash get involved with that?  Whose idea was that?

Piggy D:  He played on one of the songs, on the record, that we shot the video for and we called him up and we were like ‘hey do you want to be in the video?”  And he was like ‘Yeah!’. 

MsBrandyRock:  Are you looking forward to seeing him today?

Piggy D:  Yeah!

MsBrandyRock:  Have you ever seen him solo with other band members?

Piggy D:  We saw him at the Revolver Golden God Awards a few weeks ago, in LA, and he did a few songs off the new record.  I’m looking forward to seeing a whole show.

MsBrandyRock:  I heard Myles Kennedy from Alterbridge is doing the vocals today. 

Piggy D:  Oh really?

MsBrandyRock:  The video, with Alice Cooper, the ‘Vengeance is Mine’ thing.  I love it because my mother worked in personal care for old people and so many of the other people she worked with treated the older people so poorly and whenever I was listening and watching the video that is what I was thinking about.  What would all the old people, who can’t help themselves, do to all the people that were treating them like crap if they had a chance? 

Piggy D:  That’s really interesting you bring that up, because one of the difficult things about that video was getting them to agree to…

MsBrandyRock:  …allow everything to happen? 

Piggy D:  …well not just allow it but, I wanted ....Alice.... to look frail at certain parts.  I wanted him to look like he’s not capable of doing anything on his own because he’s crazy, not because he’s old but because he’s crazy.  So when he does start killing people, you’re like oh okay don’t underestimate that guy.

MsBrandyRock:  So that’s what it was meant to be, because the stories my mom told me that was the first thing I thought of…

Piggy D:  That is so funny, yeah that’s pretty cool. 

 MsBrandyRock:  not like I’m calling Alice Cooper old……

Piggy D:  Yeah, no no.  People who are handicapped in any way, mentally, physically, or whatever.  Don’t underestimate them because they may strangle you or kick your ass. 

MsBrandyRock:  You look a lot different now than when you are on stage.  How much of yourself is there when you are on stage with Rob Zombie? 

Piggy D:  It’s all me and it’s none of me.  I think every single human being has another side.  It’s the Batman thing.  I’m not calling myself Batman.  Well, actually I am calling myself Batman.  And I feel pretty cool. 

MsBrandyRock:  Maybe you will have another nickname.

Piggy D:  Yeah maybe.  You know you get to express another side of you.  You’re not gonna walk around the mall with a skunk on your arm, war paint, and all of this stuff.  You’re not going to do that to put gas in the car.  So to have that outlet, to be that guy that I think about is pretty cool.  And it saves me from walking around a mall with a skunk on my arm, whatever you know.  It’s my other side.  I’m not gonna walk around the house like that.  I’m passionate about the music, I’m very animated when I play,  I feel every beat when I play, I know every word, every note, that’s me with music.  The artistic side I get to express a little more. 

MsBrandyRock:  I listened to another project you used be involved with called Amen.  There have been a lot of people involved with that, people that I recognize.  I had never heard of it, did it help you make contacts?

Piggy D:  Amen was a punk band from ....Los Angeles.....  Amen was self-proclaimed as the ‘most dangerous band on the planet’ and it was.  An Amen show was a living car accident, for 45 minutes or however long it would last.  Going through the, I like to call it, Amen boot camp, you learn 101 things not to do, not to put in your body, not to stick up your nose, not to drink, and how to survive in probably the worst situation you could ever put yourself into.  So it was a blessing and a curse.  I’ll leave it at that. 

 Piggy D has posted this to official website.

This his since been posted on  Road Runner Records website as well.

***********************************************************************************

Press pass courtesy of Brian Cade and Muen Magazine.

Very, very special thanks to Eric13 of Sex Slaves.

Airbourne (Rock on the Range 2010)

This interview is far from earth shattering status and I am very much aware of this.  It was very rushed at this point of time in the media tent and it was also very loud.  I know people that can say this is fact because they were doing interviews with members from Airbourne at the same time.  I will be interested to see if my media tent buddy Luie from  http://www.splattertribe.tv/ even posts his.  He gave me a shout out on the site a while back so this shout out is way past due. 

MsBrandyRock: I just wanted to let you know I am representing Muen Magazine and if you haven’t heard of them, they keep up with a lot of the ‘underground’ bands and help bands network through their street team. Have you ever heard of Taddy Porter? They played the festival yesterday on a smaller stage.

Joel: Okay, cool, nah.

MsBrandyRock: They are from Oklahoma. I don’t know them but, their music, its like old rock, more so 70’s and I think that you would like their music.

Joel: I will check them out.

MsBrandyRock: How old are you, are you allowed to tell me that?

Joel: 26

MsBrandyRock: Ok it says on the site that everyone is between 19 and 23.

Joel: Yeah we haven’t updated it.

MsBrandyRock: When you got signed to Capital and that fell through do you feel like that was a blessing in disguise?

Joel: Yeah…I do….yeah its like things work out, ya know?

MsBrandyRock: All of the bigger tours you have been on, like with the Rolling Stones, did that happen before or after Capital came across Airbourne?

Joel: Before.

MsBrandyRock: What do you think about bands that do not write their own music?

Joel: Each to their own.

MsBrandyRock: Airbourne has a lot of upcoming dates in Europe and you have played a lot there in the past, being an outsider, do you think there is a difference between music fans in the United States and Europe? Do you see a difference in the crowds overseas, are they more involved?

Joel: Well, today for example, there was a circle pit, crowd surfing, same thing going on over there. People come to drink; people come to drink over there. I find it similar.

MsBrandyRock: Now you’re from a small town in Australia that I can’t pronounce, how many kids were in your school?

Joel: ahh about 500.

MsBrandyRock: Really? That’s about as small as my school in Pennsylvania. So being from that small of a town, did you ever expect to be playing shows this size?

Joel: I mean, when you start out you just want to get out there and play. You don’t think too far ahead. You don’t think oh your going to be over here on the other side of the world.

MsBrandyRock: Now, I now you just toured Canada with Motley Crue. What has been your favorite tour so far, the one that was unforgettable?

Joel: A tour we did with Motorhead and Rose Tattoo in Australia.

MsBrandyRock: When you were recording the CD you slept in the studio, why?

Joel: We like to be where the action is. We used to live together in a house.

MsBrandyRock: Were you really on welfare for three years when you were trying to make a go of the band because you would have been playing shows. How did you get away with that?

Joel: Yeah, yeah. A lot of smoke and mirrors.

MsBrandyRock: Have you ever played in the state of Pennsylvania? Have you heard of the football team the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Joel: Yes, Yeah.

MsBrandyRock: Your song, ‘Steel Town’. They need to use that song.

Joel: Yeah they gotta use that song.

MsBrandyRock: You need to make that happen. The city of Pittsburgh, that is what it was founded on.

Joel: We will have to send it over.

MsBrandyRock: Yeah, they would love it. They would probably make it their anthem.

MsBrandyRock: Ok well, I am all about the live show and this was my first time seeing ya’ll live and I was exited about that.

Joel: Aww, well thank you.

MsBrandyRock: Ok originally I was told the interview was going to be with you, then it changed, and now you are sitting here. So I did find out about the book that is coming out in October. What is up with that?

Joel: A good mate of mine Paul Miles, he is releasing a book called ‘Sex Tips from Rock Stars’. He has this big list of big name dudes. It will be a funny book.

Press Pass courtesy Brian Cade Photography at Muen Magazine.

Thanks to Luie too!

Theory of a Deadman (Rock on the Range 2010)

MsBrandyRock: Now, I was looking at the band’s website and it’s been a while since I have seen the band live and I’m actually going to miss Theory of A Deadman today because I have other interviews going on. However, I saw beside the band’s logo the definition of heaven, is there significance in that?

Dean Back: I have no idea. I think that was just the artistic guy who put the website together. I’ll have to check it out I haven’t been on our website in a long time.

MsBrandyRock: Well, I think it’s in more than one place and it’s always right beside the logo.

Dean Back: Oh really?

MsBrandyRock: It says ‘a place or state of supreme happiness, she made his life heaven on earth’. So I didn’t know if that was in reference to the band’s name.

Dean Back: I think you are looking into it further than what we did.

MsBrandyRock: Ok, ‘Bad Girlfriend’ it was a big hit. To me it seems like it has been done a lot and I’m sure you may have heard that before. So I just want you to change my mind on that.

Dean Back: Right. Well I don’t know. That song was written 3, 4 years ago, so it’s just Tyler writing about his experience with meeting his wife. I don’t think there was a pre-conceived notion of trying to write something that has already been written. Ya know, it’s something that Tyler wrote from his heart. It’s true to him.

MsBrandyRock: Are you involved with any of the song writing or music writing?

Dean Back: Every song is different. There is collaboration between the three of us. Tyler writes the lyrics. There are ideas sent back and forth via email.

MsBrandyRock: My favorite song from Theory of A Deadman is ‘Nothing Could Come Between Us’ I know that’s an older song, but the reason why I like it is because I live in South Carolina now and I heard that song on the radio and that’s why I looked the band up because it mentions South Carolina.

Dean Back: Right.

MsBrandyRock: Is it based on a true story? Is it based on someone driving back and forth to South Carolina?

Dean Back: No, I think that was more just Tyler writing a song. We are also influenced by southern rock and roll like Lynard Skynard and that kind of stuff and that was just Tyler trying to connect the idea of the south and he was using it as a literary term. But no we didn’t know anyone from South Carolina. We’ve never been to South Carolina.

MsBrandyRock: No you have.

Dean Back: Not when the song was written.

MsBrandyRock: I think you were at Headliners in Columbia, South Carolina before it closed. But like 3 years ago you were supposed to be headlining the St. Patty’s Day Festival. But it got rained out.

Dean Back: Yeah. We were there. That was gonna be the very first show of ‘Scars and Souvenirs’ tour. 2008 or 2007 I don’t know. But, it was a long time ago. 4 Points or something?

MsBrandyRock: 5 Points. And I think you were rescheduled to come back I think with Black Stone Cherry.

Dean Back: Yeah we played a club.

MsBrandyRock: Have you ever heard of the music site Tunelab?

Dean Back. No.

MsBrandyRock: Well, my friend nICK he writes CD reviews for that site and he said “ ‘Bad Girlfriend’ is a guilty pleasure”.

Dean Back: Yep.

MsBrandyRock: He also went on to say you were “modern rock titans” concerning the latest CD because he said a number of “ballads could make waves at crossover radio stations”. Was that what Theory of a Deadman was thinking about?

Dean Back: No, when you write a ballad, when Tyler gets in the mood, he is a great ballad writer and writes beautiful stuff. And I think every band’s goal is to reach as many people as possible. We are still a rock band and will always be. Rock guys have hearts too.

MsBrandyRock: Yeah, even harder bands have slower songs even like Killswitch Engage.

Dean Back: Yeah, it’s like Corey Taylor has created a different thing.

MsBrandyRock: Kinda like the 80’s.

Dean Back: Yeah absolutely. Get the girls to the shows.

MsBrandyRock: What is Theory of a Deadman’s history prior to meeting Chad Kroeger of Nickleback? Were you playing local bars?

Dean Back: No, not at all. We were writing songs, working on our song writing craft. We played in a basement. We never played live. One of the big showcases for record labels was one of our first shows ever. We had records labels fly in from New York and Los Angeles to watch us play in the basement.

MsBrandyRock: Well, I’m sure you have played in other bands before. Was it kind of weird that it happened like that?

Dean Back: I mean, ya know, yeah. As soon as Chad decided that he wanted to start his own record company, it was only going to be a Canadian record company, so we wanted an American label as well. So we had about 5 or 6 record labels come and watch us play. We quit our jobs and things happened pretty quickly. Ya know, it has still been a gradual build to get to the place we are now.

MsBrandyRock: Do you think it would have happened as fast without him hearing your music?

Dean Back: No. We definitely owe him a lot. He gave us our shot.

MsBrandyRock: The Olympics this past year were you nervous about playing that?

Dean Back: Only because it is out of our comfort zone. To be playing in front of a television crowd, they had their own production, so they had a lot of things. We play 6 nights a week and we have everything down the way we like it. But when you put in a different production company, things aren’t how you are used to. And you are relying upon people you don’t know. So it was more about what could go wrong, then actually playing in front of 2 million people at home and 60,000 people in the stadium.

MsBrandyRock: Was it like a big deal though, since it was your home country?

Dean Back: Yeah, absolutely. Very big deal, very big honor.

MsBrandyRock: Was it something you were looking at doing or did someonr contact you?

Dean Back: The Olympic Committee called us. We were like, yes, yes. Just a great honor, a lot of fun. Great memory.

MsBrandyRock: Who was your first tour with?

Dean Back: 3 Doors Down. As soon as we came out in 2002 they were awesome to us, took us over to Europe. They treated us really well.

MsBrandyRock: Who are you most looking forward to seeing play today?

Dean Back: Slash, oh yeah for sure. I grew up listening to Guns N Roses, one of my main influences to playing live music.

MsBrandyRock: Have you ever seen him before?

Dean Back: Oh yeah, I’ve seen him before. Slash’s Snakepit came through Vancover in 1995. Hung outside his tour bus waiting for him, he came out and signed some autographs for me.

MsBrandyRock: Do you know who’s playing with him today?

Dean Back: Yeah, our old drummer is actually his drummer, Brent Fitz, who drummed with us and toured with us for ‘Gasoline’

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Press Pass from Brian Cade Photography at Muen Magazine.

Special thanks to nICK.

Noise Auction (Rock on the Range 2010)

I had a chance to sit down with three members of Noise Auction at Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio May 22^nd and they hail from the area. The members interviewed were Se7eN (guitars/vocals), Shorty (bass/vocals), and Ryan (keys/vocals).

MsBrandyRock: Did ya’ll know there is a memorial site dedicated to you online?

Noise Auction: Let us say on record, Noise Auction is not dead, baby!

MsBrandyRock: You guys know Joan Red, right?

Shorty: yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

MsBrandyRock: Anthony told me you, specifically were theatrical during your live shows. What does that mean?

Shorty: Theatrical as in I swing my dreads around and I come and pat Se7eN and Ryan on the ass, very theatrical in that aspect!

MsBrandyRock: Ok I found this describing ya’ll. I don’t remember if this is on your myspace page but it said ‘proud of being a rock band, while others follow trends’.

Ryan: If it’s not it probably should be because it makes sense. Listen to the radio it’s a package deal that they present to you. From media, from economics, from the market, what people think they should be listening to? We’re going to create what we want to and let people make their own mind up.

MsBrandyRock: Exactly, I was looking up all the bands I had not heard of when I found out I was getting the opportunity to come to Rock on the Range. You guys caught my attention, but most of the bands I support don’t get mass radio play, such as Joan Red. There are so many mid level touring bands, 10 times better than half of the bands playing this festival but they aren’t here.

MsBrandyRock: Ya’ll have worked with producer, Joe Viers, who has also worked with Bobaflex. Do ya’ll know them?

Noise Auction: Oh, very well, yes

MsBrandyRock: Ok this band Hydrovibe (St. Heather), who they have toured with, told me that I should never want to get in Bobaflex’s heads because it’s not a good place to be.

Se7eN: Very true.

Ryan: I can tell you one of the best jokes I have ever heard in my life.

MsBrandyRock: What?

Ryan: I’m not going to go there never mind. But, that’s how serious I’m talking about. Bobaflex is off the wall and like that musically. They go above and beyond what you would normally expect from a band. They’ve always been successful because they go that extra mile.

MsBrandyRock: Are ya’ll working on a new CD?

Noise Auction: oh yeah, absolutely

MsBrandyRock: Where can ‘A Stitch in Time’, the current CD, be purchased?

Noise Auction: http://www.myspace.com/noiseauction, at any of our shows, we sell them out of our trunks, Reverbnation, http://www.noiseauction.bigcartel.com/

MsBrandyRock: Was there some type of contest to get ya’ll on the show?

Se7eN: No, let’s clarify this real quick, we got chosen to play Rock on the Range, we were not part of the Battle of the Bands. No, disrespect for our boys in State Your Cause who won that. We got a high recommendation from Ronnie Hunter on 99.7 The Blitz, “Just Scott” from the Rock on the Range Party Page who was very vital in helping us get to play.

Ryan: There was one competition that we won, like a tribute to March Madness in college basketball, called Ranger Madness.

Shorty: It was like text in American Idol type voting.

MsBrandyRock: Really? Yeah, I didn’t even know there was a competition. I was just curious since ya’ll are ‘local’.

Se7eN: They decided to put one more Columbus band on. Definitely check out State Your Cause, very cool band, they go on tomorrow around 12:15.

MsBrandyRock: Ok, you have this cruise coming up with the Genitorturers? I showed up at one of their shows once, not knowing anything about the live show, to see a band from New York City called Sex Slaves. And I was kind of shocked. How did ya’ll wind up being chosen for the cruise?

Noise Auction: ***laughter*** Good story.

MsBrandyRock: Well you know I had never seen people hanging from hooks before.

Shorty: Well it’s kind of the same thing as Rock on the Range, someone who appreciates us, they got a hold of us, asked us if we wanted to do a show that involved us going on a cruise with some national bands. We’re always up for that kind of challenge. We’ve seen the Genitorturers before and we’re great fans of their show and it’s a great opportunity for us.

MsBrandyRock: Do you have any endorsements from any of the gear you abuse?

Noise Auction: Speed Evil Clothing. We are working on any type of endorsement we can get.

MsBrandyRock: Any future touring plans?

Noise Auction: There are always future plans. Rock on the Range is a step in that direction. It’s a good place to make good contacts and head in that direction. Whatever we can get, we’ll take.

MsBrandyRock: I saw something else written about Noise Auction. ‘Hard rock with a twist’. What is the twist?

Ryan: Vocal, guitar, keyboard, electronic melodies. This makes it a little different and raw.

MsBrandyRock: Ok, I’m all about the live show. So why should I see you guys live tomorrow?

Noise Auction: We’re a very energetic fun band to watch live. Good songs, good hard rock for everybody. We like to bring all the energy we can from the stage to the fans. Really connect with the fans.

Shorty: We also want people to know especially in Ohio that we are not letting up after Rock on the Range. We do have another festival coming up called Woodshock in August (13,14,15) We will be in PA, West Virginia, Kentucky, everywhere in a couple states region.

MsBrandyRock: What about South Carolina?

Noise Auction: There is no where we will not go.

MsBrandyRock: Ok, Se7eN. You are into photography. Why weren’t you here today taking pictures?

Se7eN: Cause I’m not here to work.

MsBrandyRock: You should have though, you’re from here, and you should have been like hey I need a pass. I want to take some pictures.

Se7eN: I’m here as music fan today.

MsBrandyRock: What type of photography do you do?

Se7eN: All kinds.

MsBrandyRock: Where did the name Se7eN come from?

Se7eN: I would love to tell you, but I would have to kill you. It’s something to do with luck.

MsBrandyRock: Lucky 7

Se7eN: Trust me that number comes up a lot in my life.

Ryan: The first time I met him his bar tab was $7.77.

MsBrandyRock: Well at least it wasn’t $6.66.

Se7eN: That woulda been cool too.

Ryan: But I wonder if he didn’t realize what he had to order plus tax.

MsBrandyRock: So Se7en is original. It’s your own thing. One day in the future band members are going to be putting 7 at the end of their names and it is going to be because of you.

Se7eN: Hey, if I can influence somebody, more power.

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Press Pass granted by Brian Cade Photography at Muen Magazine. 

Special thanks to Noise Auction for responding my request to do this interview.

Killswitch Engage (Rock on the Range 2010)

My first in person interview!

MsBrandyRock: Are you planning on playing the ‘Holy Diver’ song today as a tribute to Ronnie James Dio?

Mike D: I think at this point we have to play it everyday for sure. It’s probably the one people gravitate the most towards. It’s gotten the most radio play and we don’t want to jip the fans by not playing it. I suppose, we have played it the last few years not in tribute, but I suppose you could call it a tribute. Either way we are going to play it.

MsBrandyRock: I don’t like classifying music into genres; I look at it all as being rock, because I think the specific genres stereotype.

Mike D: Mmmhmm

MsBrandyRock: But, what is your definition of American Metalcore? What does it mean to you?

Mike D: hmmm, it just like blends hardcore and metal, blurring the lines of chuga chuga hardcore and chuga chuga metal

MsBrandyRock: Now, I was originally told the interview was going to be with Joel and I watched the behind the scenes video with his mom.

Mike D: You can ask me about his mom, we all know his mom very well. She was actually at the show last night because we took Joel’s brother’s band on tour with us and it was her first chance to see both her son’s bands play together on the same stage.

MsBrandyRock: Do you still practice at her house?

Mike D: Not so much anymore, we don’t really practice at all; we tour so much there’s no reason to. We see her a lot, she bakes cookies for us all the time.

MsBrandyRock: ‘The End of Heartache’ was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. Did you ever think that would happen?

Mike D: Not at all, never, never ever ever ever ever. It was never something I thought about because it was so far beyond reality. But, boy did it mean a lot to my parents. It didn’t necessarily mean a lot to me, but my parents all of a sudden said ‘wow, we have to come see you play’. After playing music for 20 years they finally wanted to come see me play.

MsBrandyRock: So they never saw you play before that?

Mike D: There is not reason to invite your parents if you playing a show to like 10 kids in someone’s basement. We played a lot of shows that weren’t necessarily meaningless, but now we are at the level where it’s easier to get them through the door, get them a cushy spot, and they can watch from a good area. And not get bumped into.

MsBrandyRock: Were they supportive of what you were doing before you made it a little bigger and got a record deal? Or did they think you were wasting your time?

Mike D: Yeah, they thought I was wasting my time. They forced me to go to a technical school which was actually a great thing because I have a career out of it. They would tell me I shouldn’t be concentrating on playing music. I should be concentrating on getting a job and doing other things. But, as it turns out it was sound advice, now I have a graphic design career as well as being a musician.

MsBrandyRock: Killswitch Engage has a history of playing festivals, like Mayhem Fest last year, do you seek out festivals or are you asked to play them?

Mike D: 9 times out of 10 asked. I can’t really remember one we have asked to play on.

MsBrandyRock: Why did you choose to self produce the second record?

Mike D: We self produced every one except the last one. Adam our guitarist does it. It costs a lot less money; it’s more do it yourself, than let everyone else do the work for you. More control over your product, more control over your music. And it’s more relaxing, there is no stress involved, a friend doing all the work instead of a producer that may want to tell you what to do.

MsBrandyRock: Who did you work with?

Mike D: Brendan O’Brien. He did Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, the new AC/DC, Mastadon. He had contacted us and said he was a fan of the band.

MsBrandyRock: Did that surprise you that he contacted you?

Mike D: Yes, totally, because he doesn’t like metal at all. He’s more of a song structure guy, someone who concentrates more on the overall sound of a song, rather than if it is metal or not.

MsBrandyRock: Well, like I heard Killswitch Engage for the first time on satellite radio. So there is that appeal to a wider audience. Has that helped or hurt you?

Mike D: Definitely helped, for sure, absolutely 100 percent.

MsBrandyRock: Did you expect that to happen when you first started playing shows?

Mike D: Not at all. Everything that has happened to us has been a dream, a whirlwind dream; I never expected any of it. I come from bands that never even got paid when they played. Drive like 10 hours to a show, play for 10 people, and not get paid. It was just the love of playing at that was it.

MsBrandyRock: Yeah a lot of people think that if you are in a band and ‘touring’ you get paid but sometimes you don’t even have the gas money to make it to the next town.

Mike D: Right, yep.

MsBrandyRock: Your known for pointing out people during the live show, do you pick people that are singing along to the songs?

Mike D: Well from experience from when I was in the crowd and that would happen to me. I would remember that show forever. It was out of the bounds of reality. Usually people on stage don’t quote on quote break character or even acknowledge the audience, or do something really lame like yell at them or spit at them. So I had always said to myself, you know, if I got any sort of statute, I would relay to the audience that I was excited and stoked. And that they in turn were as excited and stoked to be there as what I was. I don’t know a lot of people that I do say hi to, will come up to me afterwards and say ‘thank you that meant a lot’. I do it all the time now. It means so much to people why not keep doing it.

MsBrandyRock: Other bands say that Killswitch Engage helps keep the underground alive but also helps define the genre. Bands that you probably look up to say that, what do you think about that?

Mike D: Cool, we are just doing what we do.

MsBrandyRock: The positive messages that you put out, are you involved with the song writing?

Mike D: I write the music but not the lyrics. The lyrics were put in motion by our first singer, Jesse Leach, who wrote nothing but positive lyrics. When Jesse left the band and Howard joined it was sort of a necessity that the songs had to be positively aimed. Have some sort of outcome that was a little bit brighter than most of your metal songs. Most metal stuff is total downer stuff. There is always something that is not great about someone’s life. We kinda wanted people to come to our shows and have fun. And not come there scowling and think about their life being crappy. We wanted it to be an escape from all that garbage that goes on in everyday life. We let people participate, shake their hands, yell, scream, and laugh at us. And it’s kind of our whole vibe.

MsBrandyRock: What band are you most looking forward to seeing?

Mike D: Deftones. And they are playing right before us so I’m going to miss them, have never seen them.

MsBrandyRock: What advice would you give to bands that are on that level playing to 10 people?

Mike D: Don’t expect to ever get paid. Do it for the love, not because you want to be a rock star, because you will never be one. It’s like winning the lottery to get to a spot like this or just being so ridiculously good you just make it there on your own. Do everything yourself. Don’t pay anyone if you don’t have to. Make your own flyers. Book your own shows. Go out there and play every weekend you possibly can. Make sure you have band members that actually want to do it and are not just doing it because you want to do it. And play music you like, not music you hear.

MsBrandyRock: So, don’t try to be like anyone else?

Mike D: Well, that’s the only way you really learn is to play music by other people, but at the same time if you can take that and bring it to the next level, not copy but add your own spin to it, it takes the genre up to another level, if someone else is adding something to the pot. If people just continue to copycat it just kills the genre. I feel like punk rock is going that way right now. Every band sounds exactly the same, the same whiny voice, the same guitar riffs.

MsBrandyRock: What do you think about radio in the United States?

Mike D: Seems like its being squashed. I come from listening to Howard Stern on regular radio then he went to satellite radio and he’s so much better now that he is not censored. Censorship is ridiculous on regular radio. Regular radio is just a dead medium to me.

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Press Pass courtesy of Brian Cade Photography at Muen Magazine.

Special thanks to photographers Lindsey Martin, Jason Goetz, as well as Jeff "Chainsaw" Griffin. 

Murder FM (May 2010)

According to Murder FM they sound like 'your heart in a f**kin blender'.  I say they seem like a beautiful mix of all things enjoyful, dark, and hopeful.  You be the judge. 

Norman Matthew of Murder FM recently took the time out of his busy schedule which has included planning a wedding, recording new music, and working with music students from the school of rock and zounds, to answer a few questions for Espy Rock. 


Your video for ‘As Beautiful As You Are’ was voted Top 10 in Europe alongside Muse, 30 Seconds to Mars and Nickelback. What do you think the appeal is in Europe for your music?

Not sure what our appeal is just yet. It’s quite awesome that a country Murder FM has yet to visit is so supportive of our band and our music out the gate. It's a breath of fresh air to be played on TV airwaves before our market value, marketing dollars and overall stock as a band was proven. Glasstone Record walked the video over to SCUZZ and their program director spun the video because he liked it and for no other reason. It grew wings and flew and I’m extremely thankful.

So this Squizz TV actually plays videos? I think MTV needs to get back to that. Hell, even MTV 2.

It’s Scuzz that plays Videos, sooo dope! Squizz is on Satellite Radio ;) I Agree MTV = music television, hasn’t been that in years!

I personally think it’s awesome that Skindred’s ‘Stand for Something’ is right up there too! Benji is a cool cat! I love his jacket!

Skindred is awesome. I dig their first single that came out a while back. If I’m not mistaken, they are from Wales in the UK which makes it an honor to be listed side by side with them on a chart, it’s their home court.

Now, I’m all about the live show. Norman, you seem multi-talented….vocals, guitar, programming, piano. Do you play piano at shows?

Well thank you, that’s a very nice thing to say. Sometimes I don’t know if it’s so much multi-talented, but more like driven to understand the mechanics and dynamics of a song and the musical communication within the songwriting. I would love to play piano and keys when we are afforded the opportunity in a live show and get more than 30 minutes opening up for an killer headliner. We have many plans in our head and hope they come to life one day, there’s just only so much room on stage sometimes, but tons of room in my head, haha.

Describe Murder FM’s live show using 5 words.

Bloody, sweaty, body paint, baby powder and aggressive.

Ok, I am somewhat concerned. What is up with the backdrop? (By the way those are amazing pictures in the Dallas, TX album on http://www.myspace.com/murderfmmusic)

The backdrops are the blood of our enemies we collect as we tour, haha! its simply part of the theme, bloody backdrops to kinda set the mood, with the full length record, there will be a whole other stage and clothing theme. I miss bands that put on a show, even in their smallest form, so we strive to theme things out and that is the plan for each record.

Hmmm….so I can somewhat understand the baby powder and the water winding up on stage during shows. But what is the black latex paint used for?

In unison things make a bigger impression theatrically. Imagine a sports team all walking out with each member wearing different jerseys, it wouldn’t be quite as intense. Each one of us plays an important role in the band and are cogs in a machine, its not about the individual, but more about the beast we are as one, so our "uniform" just kinda ties us all together.

How exactly does one get to witness the backstage industrial dance party before your shows?

Just walk through an alley or parking lot and look for the convoy of vans, buses, rv's and uhauls. We usually get shafted on dressing rooms unless the janitor cleans out the broom closet when we play bigger places. Seriously, the term "backstage" is a little too rockstar status for me at the moment. I kinda like to just keep it real, listen to jams and stay as far from the club as possible until its time to play.

Speaking of which, I see you are involved with Team Cybergeist. How did this come about and share whatever you wish about this.

Angel from DOPE is the catalyst of the Team Cybergeist project, members of KITTIE, THE DREAMING, STONE SOUR and so many more are involved. Angel hit me up while I was recording the NEVER 3NOUGH record with Keith and Trevor of 18VISIONS asking if I would be interested in doing vocals. Fast forward two and a half years, I’ve sung on two songs and just remixed ‘Justified’. I'm sure all of which will surface as Angel prepares to release ‘How to Destroy Something Beautiful’ in the US. I know it’s out in Japan and the title track ‘How To Destroy Something Beautiful’ is the track I sing on.

To what extent was Beau Hill, Interscope Records founder, producer of Warrant, Ratt, etc, involved with the record?

Forget the record; Beau is involved in my life. He is my mentor in more ways than you can imagine, music aside he's always right behind everything I do in one aspect or another. Beau is always looking out for me and I’m thankful.

I had never heard of him by the way and got lost on his site. There are a lot of up and coming bands that I recognize he has worked with, such as Lynam. He seems like he truly is passionate about finding new talent to work with.

I get lost in his house! It’s hard to find your way when gold and platinum records blind you left and right. He's a true legend in this business. He's done more than what is on his site and he's always looking to be cuttinge edge, pushing envelopes and never content with just things being ok. He strives for perfection, is up on the latest technology, newest bands and the man has ears that just don’t fail. Before there was Rick Rubin and Bob Rock, there was Beau Hill, lets not forget that.

And you are signed to an independent label called Glasstone Records. Do you like it this way because you have more control over what you can and can not do as an artist?

Glasstone has been a key component in the building of Murder FM. The music industry model and business as we know it has changed. The playing field is level, distribution channels have changed, marketing strategies, demographics buying habits and the political infrastructure are flailing, soon, a Glasstone or any indie will be just a big a beast as a Universal or Virgin. It’s interesting to see how things have flip flopped. I love having control over what we do, but if you as an artist realize your music is a product and so are you ,the sooner you figure that out, the less you are "told" what to do in a sense. It’s a big boys game and you need to have your strategy before you get in the ring. I wish any artist trying to "make it" even MORE luck than ever before. Calculate your moves.

When did you guys tour with Korn? And what is your most memorable memory from that tour?

From THE USED tour to DOPE to KORN, April 27th,2010 at County Coliseum in my hometown of El Paso,Tx with KORN is one of my fondest memories onstage.