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The Underrated 80s Horror Movie You've Probably Forgotten About < Back Dead Pit Ezekiel Kincaid Dec 8, 2022 Share The Underrated 80s Horror Movie You've Probably Forgotten About The year is 1990. Ten-year-old me is browsing the horror section one Friday night at Dixie Video, knowing good and well my parents aren't going to allow me to rent what I really want to watch. While perusing said shelves, I come across a video that makes me feel like Ralphie in A Christmas Story the first time he held his Red Rider BB gun. Dead Pit . On the cover, a zombie resembling Frankenstein crawls out of a pit, surrounded by a bunch of hands reaching out of the same hole. Behind him stalks more of the living dead. As you can see above, the color scheme is black and neon green. What made this case even more fascinating was that when you’d press the zombie, his eyes lit up! I was sold. Ten-year-old me had to see this movie! Ten-year-old me asked my parents. Ten-year-old me was told "no" because it was R rated. I had to wait a few years, but I finally got around to watching Dead Pit . As an adolescent, I remember liking the movie, but as time went on, the movie drifted into obscurity in my mind. Until a few years ago, when I was browsing Amazon Prime to find an 80s horror movie to pass the time. Lo and behold, what appeared! The memories surrounding this movie came flooding back. I was lost in nostalgia, wondering how in the world I could have forgotten about a movie like this. One euphoric memory after another tingled my soul. When the sensation ended, I went to my pantry, grabbed a jar of peanut butter, and commenced watching. And boy, was I glad I did! What's the movie about? Released in 1989, like most 80's horror, the plot is kind of silly. The psychotic Dr. Ramzi was walled up alive in a nuthouse. He had been caught performing experiments that involved one-part formaldehyde and one-part lobotomies. When he was done extracting the brains from his victims, he tossed the bodies into the pit. As his captors bricked him in and sealed him up, the crazy doctor swears he will get revenge on them. Jump ahead twenty years. Enter Jane Doe. She's admitted to the asylum for a bad case of amnesia. It just so happens that Jane Doe has some serious psychic powers. So powerful is she, that she awakens Dr. Ramzi from his sleep. Once awakened, Ramzi and Doe seem to share a psychic bond. Ramzi uses this bond to draw power from her to raise all his victims from the pit. Ramzi then sends out his zombie horde for revenge. This movie has some creative kills and descent 80s gore. There's also all the cheese that we've come to adore about 80s horror. My favorite (terribly cheesy) scene has to do with holy water and a water tower. Also, the zombies are somewhat intelligent, and they move fast. Overall, I enjoyed digging up this forgotten jewel of my childhood. If you're a fan of 80s horror, this is a must-see for you. Check it out now on Amazon while you still can! I’m an avid VHS collector and I’ve since been able to acquire a copy of Dead Pit (see pic below). The tape still works like a charm and the cover is in okay shape. The only down side is that the zombie eyes don’t light up. I’ve been trying to track down a copy with working LEDs, but I’ve had no luck. So, if any readers out there know where I can get a copy, hit me up! Until next time, keep it creepy, you bunch of freaks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent < Back Peter Dinklage Keeley Brooks Nov 22, 2022 Share Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent I’m not ashamed to say that most of my nights and weekends are spent watching movies and streaming series. And sometimes, because I’m a grown up, I play video games. From new titles and old titles to titles I come across by chance and those that come recommended, I love diving in deep to get lost. And what most of society labels as being “lazy” and “unmotivated” is something, for me, that is quite the opposite. In my world, things like this are exciting, enthralling, rewarding, and challenging because I thoroughly enjoy digging into and dissecting the cinematic arts. Why is that lazy or unmotivated? Consider all the aspects that go into one story: theme, characters, setting, plot, metaphors, foreshadowing, twists and turns, cinematography, special effects, costume designs, voice-overs, edits, music, actors, etc. All of these are what ignite my intellect. There’s nothing I love more (other than my lil family o’ dummies) than getting lost in a story and finding meaning in something I’m watching, and I love observing from different points of view: how real does what I’m watching seem? Is it truly believable, and why or why not? Does a story and its parts have what it takes not just to hold my attention but also to be so believable that I have to remind myself it’s just a movie? And, I won’t lie, I’m a bit of a snob in the sense that I do look for things missed in post-production and for continuity between cut frames in the same scene. I also love analyzing the work of art as a whole and discovering its effect on me. That , to me, is exciting, and I’d much rather spend my time doing that and being with my people rather than being out in the madness of the world. By no means am I a recluse; I just am who I am, and I won’t apologize for it. I also can’t hear those who call this content lover as “lazy” and “unmotivated” for engaging in what she loves, and that’s super-good news for those of you out there who are looking for recommendations on what to watch. That’s what I’m here for ... just ask my family and friends. I also enjoy following different actors through their careers. One I have loved and followed since 2005 is Peter Dinklage, whom you might best know as Tyrion Lannister from HBO’s Game of Thrones . He’s just awesome, with eyes full of meaning and emotion that speak to the hearts of viewers everywhere. He’s an intensely humble and marvelous actor to watch, and he brings such a captivating emotional depth and range to every title he’s in and character he plays that you just can’t help but love him, feel what his characters feel, and want to follow his career. I was first introduced to him in 2005 when a friend who shared my affinity for film introduced me to The Station Agent , which is an independent psychological comedy-drama by Tom McCarthy ( The Visitor , Win Win , Spotlight ) starring Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams. It’s a sweet and quirky but also deeply heartfelt movie about an improbable group of lonely people in a small town who find their paths continuously crossing and are forced to befriend one another. It stars Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams and follows the life of train aficionado and downcast little person Finbar McBride (Dinklage), whose life takes an unexpected turn when his boss dies and leaves him a railroad depot in small-town New Jersey. Fin moves in to the depot and keeps to himself and his love and respect for trains, until his space is comically invaded by a very talkative and carefree food truck vendor, played by Bobby Cannavale. Then, an unhappy, reclusive artist/wife (Patricia Clarkson) shows up, and the trio’s unlikely interactions deepen as some eccentric conversations, relationships, and outcomes ensue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031TV29V3e0 Dinklage’s performance will melt your heart, and the culmination of this movie will leave you with chills, forcing you to appreciate the good friends you have in your life and let them know you love them. I highly, highly, highly recommend this movie. One of his more recent works I recently saw is a 2018 independent flick called I Think We’re Alone Now , starring Dinklage, Elle Fanning, and Paul Giamatti, and directed by Reed Morano, who has directed and executive produced the pilot and some episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale and the movies Frozen River (2008) and Lemonade (2016). This movie is about two survivors who learn to co-exist and live together after a worldwide pandemic wipes out Earth’s population. Dinklage is on his own and has been for some time, going house to house in his city, clearing them of the dead and burying bodies, as well as “cleaning” houses for items he needs and can use to survive. One day, out of nowhere, a vehicle crashes into a nearby pole and inside he finds a girl (Elle Fanning) inside, bleeding and passed out with a head wound. Thinking he was the only survivor left in the world, he's hesitant of her but ultimately decides to help her and bandages her up. They then very cautiously begin to learn about one another, slowly building trust and a little openness into their individual worlds … right up until Paul Giamatti shows up and brings a twist that really amps things up, and Dinklage finds himself on a quest across the country alone to rescue the very person he helped then shunned after learning of her secret. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPrnb_BYsdA It’s not your typical post-apocalyptic film but it's a very good flick with some fantastic acting, a great storyline, and some very well-done directing and camera work. I Think We’re Alone Now is a slow-burn of intensity building up to a shocking revelation that’ll leave you thinking about post-apocalyptic depictions, scenarios, and expectations in an entirely new light, while revealing the beauty of trusting, letting go, and opening up your world to other people. I just as highly recommend this movie, too. Dinklage has a slew of good movies, including the Will Ferrell Christmas hit Elf . You can check out his full repertoire on IMDB.com . Enjoy, my fellow movie lovers! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

From the bayous of Louisiana to the amygdala and the amplifier – Joseph LeDoux rocks them all. < Back Neurons and Notes: The Musical Mind of Joseph LeDoux Nicole Brice Oct 2, 2025 Share From the bayous of Louisiana to the amygdala and the amplifier – Joseph LeDoux rocks them all. Joseph LeDoux is Professor Emeritus at New York University . He is also the author of the best-selling book “ The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life ”, as well as numerous other influential writings. With decades of research experience, LeDoux is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on the mind and brain. Credit: Richard Barone In addition to his academic contributions, LeDoux is a prolific musician and recording artist. He has collaborated with artists such as Rosanne Cash and performed with his band, The Amygdaloids , alongside musicians like Rufus Wainwright , Lenny Kaye , and Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate . He has also written scores for programs and documentaries. What has this man not done? Although he is renowned worldwide as a neuroscientist, LeDoux is fundamentally a gifted musician hailing from Eunice, Louisiana . He is a humble, kind-spirited individual who radiates positivity, and we encourage you to check out his music. The Amygdaloids , his band, is somewhat reminiscent of Devo due to their intelligent subject matter and the fact that the band is comprised of scientists. Their songs are quirky, thoughtful, unique, and extraordinary . The band’s music has been playfully described as "heavy mental”, and coincidentally, that is the name of their first album, which features a blend of classic and experimental sounds, with tracks that evoke the sound of Tom Petty meets Elvis Costello . The standout guitar work, characterized by clean tones, is only one profound layer to The Amygdaloids' music . It can be mellow yet soulful , but then completely take a turn into something more rockin'. With lyrics that delve into the complexities of the mind, you find yourself thinking as well as listening. Credit: Joseph LeDoux The Amygdaloids’ second album, Theory of My Mind , leans toward a more upbeat and rock-oriented sound, with each song distinctly unique. The compositions are intricate, showcasing a tight-knit group of musicians. If I could create a genre for this band’s music, I would have to title it Brain Rock . One standout track for me on The Amygdaloids’ second album is ‘ Brainstorm ’, which begins with a beautifully fuzzy guitar that howls gently , highlighting the talent of a truly gifted guitarist. In addition to two full-length albums, the band has also released a few EPs along the way, too. So, how did I come to learn about Joseph LeDoux ? My journey into the realm of Joseph began with a delightful twist of fate, sparked by my friendship with fellow musician Paul Sanchez when he introduced us. After that introduction, I had the incredible opportunity to engage in an enjoyable conversation with Joseph, delving into the nuances of his music and more. We left no stone unturned. Read on below. MaM : You were born and raised in Eunice, Louisiana, but now reside in New York. How much do you miss things down here? When you come to visit, do you ever think you’ll stick around this time? What drew you to New York initially? JL : Well, I grew up in Eunice , and the year that I graduated from high school, a junior college version of LSU opened up in Eunice , and my parents wanted me to stay and go to the junior college because it would be cheaper, even though LSU wasn’t that much. I told them “No” and that I wanted to go to LSU , and so we went back and forth, and they finally said, “Well, if you promise to be a banker after studying business, then we’ll allow it. We’ll do it.” I attended LSU for four years, studying Business Administration , and subsequently earned a master's degree in marketing. During this process, I also took several psychology courses. It was the late 1960s to early 1970s, and it wasn’t very cool to be in Marketing. MaM : (laughter) Right? JL : So, I’m looking for something else to do, and I fell in love with Psychology . I took a course called Learning and Motivation , expecting it to be relevant – I was working on consumer protection for my thesis, and it turned out the class was taught by a researcher studying rat brains and memory at LSU . He was the professor, and that was his class. I had no idea you could study the brain, let alone rat brains. I worked in his lab for a little while, and I mainly observed what was going on. I didn’t really know how to do anything. I decided, though, that I wanted that to be my career. Study the brain. He said to me that I didn’t have a chance and asked how I was going to get into graduate school with no qualifications. (laughter) I said, “Well, I’m gonna give it a shot.” So, I wrote twelve or so applications, and Stony Brook University , located on Long Island in New York, accepted me because there was someone there who knew the professor who wrote the letter on my behalf, and thus I was given a chance. Four years later, I had a PhD in consciousness and was studying patients with epilepsy, and a book that had come out with my thesis work, so it was like I was on speed dial or something. (laughter) Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : So, you had no choice but to move up there? Destiny decided it for you. JL : I could have left and come back, but I really always had a fascination with New York City because of the Yankees . I was a big Yankees fan as a kid. I also loved all the noir movies I watched as a kid … 50s black-and-white films with murder and all kinds of things happening in New York . I just had a feeling I was meant to live there, and I ended up leaving Stony Brook and moving to Manhattan, where I worked at Cornell Medical School for over ten years. I then moved to New York University , where I have been ever since, and I have just retired, by the way. MaM : That’s amazing. What a life. What was it like growing up in Eunice in those days? With our magazine, we’ve done a few photo shoots out there just because of the architecture and small-town vibe. Did it still have that country-where-everybody-knows-everyone type of feel? JL : Exactly. It was a perfect place to grow up, and I really enjoyed it. Just this past weekend, I was in New Orleans for a conference and some other work, but I also arranged a lecture and performance for the people of Eunice . It was advertised in the Eunice news – a big picture of me playing my guitar on stage. We had a good audience – approximately 45 to 50 people attended. Many of them I went to school with and hadn’t seen in a long time. I just lost touch with the whole community, and so I decided if not now, then when. It was the most pleasant and loving audience I have ever spoken to or played music for. It was quite amazing. They loved it so much that they want it to become an annual event. I was deeply touched and felt like I was truly back in the small community where I grew up. Even though I don’t live there, I now feel I have a stronger connection to it than I thought I did. Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : That’s amazing. The vibe and sense of community are what I love so much. I love that town. I saw that you were a DJ in high school. I was a DJ in college. Wasn’t that the best experience being a DJ? JL : It was. The highlight of my DJ’ing occurred when the radio station would bring in acts to play in town at the National Guard armory. Every Saturday night, there’d be an event. They’d book Little Bob and The Lollipops all the time. They were the go-to band. I think Little Bob is still around, but one of the things I did was host Percy Sledge . When it was time for him to go out, he pulled a flask of whiskey out of his back pocket and gave it to me for a swig. That was a highlight of my life, man. Drinking with Percy Sledge. MaM : What a story. I love your music, and nothing is cooler than the fact that your band is a bunch of scientists. What is it about music that makes you passionate and makes you want to continue to pursue it, especially today? JL : So, I actually put music down when I started becoming a scientist and got married. There just wasn’t enough time for everything. In 2005 , our son died from a heroin overdose, and so that’s what brought me back to music because music is a great healer, and I started hanging out with a biologist at NYU , and we were playing songs that had some science-based themes. I then thought I could write a few songs, so we did, and we got a gig in Brooklyn . The newspaper wrote a comment about ‘heavy mental’ and used that to describe our music, so that became the title of our first album and the genre. I think we’re the only band with that particular genre, and if there’s ever an award at the Grammys in that category, we definitely got it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBW6ZfDAP6E The Amygdaloids first show in Brooklyn, New York 2006 MaM : That would actually be a clever name for a band. When you do sit down to write, what is the process like for coming up with a song? JL : I guess there are two ways you can do it. Pick up a guitar, start strumming, and hope something comes out. The other way is to start with an idea or theme. The thing with having a genre-specific catalog of music is that a lot of what I did was start with a particular theme about the mind. Anything you could think of with the mind. Many of our songs are love songs about mind, brain, and mental disorders, but you could pretty much say any song is about mind, brain, and mental disorders. It’s front and center to what we do. MaM : Now, I know we all listen to different types of music, and we all enjoy the catalogs of our favorite musicians, but do you have a favorite song of all time that you love? Or a favorite musician? JL : I think for me, it would be ‘ She Loves You ’ by The Beatles. MaM : Ok, that’s a great one. That’s a timeless song. JL : I remember when I first heard The Beatles , I was young and had a transistor radio and was taking a bath listening to the music. Just soaking it all in. I must have been 15-16 years old at the time, but on comes this song ‘ I Wanna Hold Your Hand ’, and nothing sounded like it before. That was something different. I think The Beatles are just amazing. I’m writing a memoir right now, and the title of it is ‘Just Like Starting Over’. John Lennon and Yoko felt that every time they were together, it was just like starting over. My memoir is about all of the ways I have started over in my life. Eunice to Baton Rouge to Stony Brook to science. Lots of starting over. As a young kid, I was more interested in Paul than John , but over time, I developed an attachment to John and his sincerity. He had a tough life, and he really turned it all into wonderful music. I mean, Paul did, too, but there was something edgy about John that I came to love. Also in this book, I sort of used the Billboard Top 100 for every year of my life, starting with when I was five years old, to trigger memories from that time. If I wanted to try to drag up memories from when I was ten, I would pull up the songs that really lit the lightbulb in my head, and just by playing those songs, it would trigger more memories. It was a good strategy. Credit: Joseph LeDoux MaM : So, when is this memoir coming out? I'll be sure to check it out. JL : It’s at the publisher now, so it’ll take at least a year to come out. MaM : Your last music release was in 2017, correct? Any new music coming? JL : I guess that was the last one because everything went digital. I make music at home, creating albums, but what I have been doing since 2017 is collecting songs with two themes. One is songs of love, and the other is songs of life. I envision this as a vinyl A-side with songs of love and a B-side with songs of life. Credit: Noah Hutton MaM : I love that. How do you rate today’s music, and are there any up-and-coming musicians you like currently? JL : I’m not too hip on really present music. I don’t resonate with it as much as the old stuff I like. I am definitely stuck on a bunch of 60s artists, but bands that I like are really not current. Son Volt is one, and I like a lot of Americana country rock. I love Wilco . He apparently has just released a three-record album. It’s all acoustic and mellow. Just very mild. It’s nice. MaM : I love singer-songwriter material. I love the vibe. JL: I’ve been writing this thing, and I don’t know what it’s going to be on, but it goes like this: "I grew up in French Louisiana, in the area known as Acadiana, where it’s hot and humid most of the year; you fix that up with boudin and beer. Penguin nuns made me a pet. First communion came, I began to sweat. Watching the father, son, and the ghost, I choked on the host, and that made me toast. I had a hankering for the music called pop. When The Beatles came their pop was rock with two guitars, bass, and the drums. We had our own rockin fun …” and on and on. (laughter) MaM : I love that!!! JL : It’s going to be a long Bob Dylan-type rant. MaM : That’s what is missing in music. We really don’t have too many Bob Dylan types these days, or if we do, they aren’t in the mainstream with poetic lyrics like that. They’re more obscure. For listeners who are discovering your music for the first time, how would you describe it, and what do you hope they’ll take away from it? JL : Well, they are mostly love songs about the mind and the brain, and one in particular, ‘ Map of Your Mind ’, everyone seems to like. They’re songs about connection. Take our conversation for example, I have to get into your mind, and you have to get into mine. So, the song is about the relationship between a man and woman, my wife and I in particular, and how you have to float into the other person’s mind because sometimes, if you’re having an argument, you have to understand the other person’s perspective. Still, sometimes the hormones and the argument override that and you have to come back to it the next day and apologize. It’s more about the good part of love. Sailing deep inside and trying to find the heat of the person’s heart, keeping yourself warm. Credit: Alexi Gambis MaM : If within the next five years you could accomplish anything musically, what would it be? JL : I’m good friends with Rosanne Cash , and she has sung back-up vocals on one of my albums, and she and her husband are an amazing power couple. If I could do something with them, that would be amazing. Neil Young , too. I have a house in upstate New York , and it’s ten minutes away from the original site of the Woodstock festival. They created a big outdoor venue there, and I just saw Neil there recently. Great show. Dylan plays there, too, sometimes. Bob or Neil . Either of those. As Joseph LeDoux continues his journey, one thing is certain: we can expect more music in the future. In the meantime, be sure to check out his other releases with his band, The Amygdaloids and stay tuned for his memoir dropping in 2026 . To learn more about Joseph LeDoux and The Amygdaloids: Website: Joseph E. Ledoux Band Website: The Band – The Amygdaloids | Neuroscience meets Rock & Roll YouTube: The Amygdaloids Channel - YouTube Spotify: The Amygdaloids | Spotify Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-amygdaloids/265644607 *Cover photo credit: Richard Barone, Tape Op Tape Op - Music Production Magazine, Recording, Audio, Technology www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Drop us a line at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

NOT Just a Girl < Back No Doubt About It: Gwen Stefani Is A Legend Nicole Brice Oct 3, 2022 Share NOT Just a Girl Do you remember the first time you heard music that truly resonated with you? I do. Do you remember your first concert? I sure as heck do. I also remember the feelings associated with those times in my life. The feelings of belonging and of warmth and of finally discovering something I was truly passionate about. The infamous ticket stub from my first concert. The year was 1996, and I was 15 years old . I had a friend named Danielle, and she loved music—especially good music. We would get her mom to drive us to every concert that came into town, and back then, there were tons. In the 90’s, all the big acts came to New Orleans, and if we were lucky, Baton Rouge. On February 16, 1996 , I was invited to see Bush , No Doubt , and the Goo Goo Dolls at UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans , and the excitement felt all day at school leading up to the big show was nothing short of epic. I remember religiously watching Bush on MTV , where ' Everything Zen ' and ' Little Things ' were in constant rotation, along with ' Machinehead ' and ' Glycerine '. At this point in time, Bush was the “it” band on MTV ; their album Sixteen Stone was hugely popular, and the lead singer, Gavin Rossdale , was so utterly perfect in every way that it made all of us teenage girlies swoon. Throw in an epic shirtless cover on Rolling Stone magazine with said hunk, and you have the complete package of a teenage girl’s fantasy man. The infamous cover of Rolling Stone Magazine Anyway, I was discovering new music acts daily, and I will honestly say that seeing Bush in concert kicked off my lifelong addiction to live shows. My brother had some of the coolest friends in high school, too, and my parents’ house was always the hang-out spot, or so it seemed. We would randomly have people showing up here and there just to hang out. In fact, every time there was a knock at the door, I never knew whom I would see on the other side because we had so many people who would just stop by. I must say, a few times, some of Nick’s friends caught me looking indecent, and I would open the door, yell “it’s for you!” and then dart back to my bedroom, mortified because I wasn’t properly dressed to entertain company. Anyway, you get the picture of the non-stop barrage of friends coming to the family compound. They were the ones introducing me to music, along with my brother, and when we heard Bush was coming to town with No Doubt and the Goo Goo Dolls , I remember trying to learn as much as possible about the other acts performing on the bill with Gavin and his dudes, because I knew very little about them, especially No Doubt. All these years later, and those No Doubt CDs have been replaced with vinyl. In 1995 , the Goo Goo Dolls released a song called 'Name' to the airwaves and MTV’s Buzz Bin . It was an acoustic hit, but one with lyrics that just hit you in the heart because, let’s be honest, Johnny Rzeznik has some incredible songwriting capabilities, even to this day. I still tear up when I listen to that song. I knew the Goo Goo Dolls were opening for Bush , but who the heck was No Doubt ? I had never heard of them. I had heard from Danielle that there was a video circulating on MTV called 'Just a Girl,' and I remember waiting anxiously each day as I binge-watched MTV, wondering if I would ever see the video or hear the song. Finally, one afternoon, there it was. I was hooked from the moment the first few chords started. There was Gwen Stefani on the screen, gorgeous, blonde, beautiful, and so cool! Her style! I was in awe of her style! She was wearing Dickies , a white cropped top resembling a preppy sweater, and Doc Martens . The girl had serious style, and from that moment on, I was obsessed. I could not wait to see them live! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzOOQfhPFg Official video for 'Just a Girl' The day of the concert was a Friday , so you can imagine how hard I was daydreaming at school instead of paying attention to what the teachers were teaching. Once the bell rang for dismissal, though, I couldn’t get to my friend Laurie’s car fast enough. Laurie was this girl who lived down the street from my parents. She had a short, dark bob, and she was so cool and so pretty, and I truly looked up to her. Her parents had recently blessed her with a brand-new teal-colored 2-door Honda Civic for her senior year, and I thought it was the coolest car ever. She and I had a speech class together, and she was a senior, and I was a freshman. One day, out of the goodness of her heart, she extended an invitation to give me a ride to school, and that was that. She was my ride to and from school my entire freshman year, and it was awesome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIeiWCWjrc4 No Doubt LIVE from the Tragic Kingdom Anyway, so the day of the concert, I’m practically sprinting to Laurie’s car, because I couldn’t wait to get home and prepare to leave for the show that night. Since this was 1996, my concert attire consisted of a baggy pair of Calvin Kleins with the bottoms cut off and frayed , my shiny red patent-leather Sketchers, and my brother’s army-green Filter t-shirt from when he saw them at the PMAC at LSU with Bush , Brother Cane , and the Toadies . Back then, I would just “borrow” my brother’s clothes, even if they were too big for me. He had some cool clothes and t-shirts, and I hated wearing anything tight or revealing. I was a Grunge chick, through and through. To this day, I don’t know if he actually liked me borrowing his clothes, but if ya didn’t, Nick, then I am sorry. Oops. So, there I am, all ready to roll, and I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Danielle and her mom. Once in the car with the radio on, we got so hyped up. See, back in the day, the local radio stations would promote an upcoming show like there was no tomorrow, and all of the sweepers and promos with music clips had us teenagers salivating. So, we’re en route to NOLA, and Danielle and I are giggling and talking about how excited we are to see the bands. Because it was my first concert, I had no clue what to expect. Once we arrived at UNO , though, the excitement was so big I felt I could burst. You could see the oodles of people everywhere, dressed up, and ready to have a good time. No Doubt was to be the first band to take the stage that night, and I had no clue what to expect. As we made our way to our seats in the balcony, I could see the huge crowd of people on the floor near the stage, and I wished I could be down there in the crowd with them. I remember Danielle and I talking about how we would snag some floor seats for a show one day so we could be up close to the stage and crowd surf—which, by the way, I should note that while crowd-surfing looks cool, when you’re down on the floor and you have some big dude going over your head that you have to toss around, it is not fun. At all. In fact, it’s kind of aggravating, especially when all you want to do is see the show. No Doubt hits the stage, and Gwen comes out walking like a badass, doing ninja kicks and all this other cool stuff, and I was hypnotized. I was zoned out on her, the music, and the whole experience. I vowed that day that I would become cool like Gwen because, at this point, I wasn’t quite cool yet, but I was getting there. I had a lot to learn. As soon as No Doubt finished their set and we were waiting for the Goo Goo Dolls to come out, I told Danielle that I just had to go see if they had a No Doubt shirt in the merch section because I just had to have one. Lo and behold, they had this blue ringer tee with yellow piping, BUT they were sold out of my size, and all they had were size small. I just HAD to have this t-shirt, so I bought the small, ran to the restroom to change, and squeezed my boobies into it. I was in heaven, and it was awesome. A 15-year-old me! The rest of the show was truly amazing, but to be honest, I couldn’t stop thinking about No Doubt ; I had to see them again. Sure, the Goo Goo Dolls put on a great show, and yes, Bush was epic, BUT Gwen Stefani was it as far as I was concerned, and the rest of the night and the drive home were filled with thoughts of Gwen Stefani , her killer abs, and her killer style. …and so, Bush was my first real concert, but I had No Doubt on the brain, and if you were to ask me what I remember most about that first Bush concert, it would definitely be No Doubt . Over the years, I have been blessed with attending many, many shows, but those days of attending infinite shows has been put on hiatus for a bit due to my life as a mom. For now, I can reminisce and share my memories with you all in hopes of inspiring a new generation to experience music the way we 90’s kids did. Love and light. -Nicole- www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The music of XEMNAS is a transcendent journey through sound. < Back The Enigma of XEMNAS: Turning Pain into Art Nicole Brice Apr 11, 2024 Share The music of XEMNAS is a transcendent journey through sound. From Elizabeth, New Jersey, and currently residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we bring you an up-and-coming talent who goes by the name of XEMNAS. At 26 years old, XEMNAS is a powerhouse when it comes to writing and producing his music. Taking his stage name from the video game “Kingdom Hearts,” XEMNAS is churning out music on his terms and making a name for himself in the underground music scene, with numerous collaborations already taking place. If I were to describe the music of XEMNAS, I would have to say it is hardcore with an artistic edge, and he has carved out a niche that defies categorization. Each track feels like a scene from an epic film, evoking a range of emotions and imagery and transporting you to an otherworldly realm. Credit: Facebook Having worked with Yung Oxzy , 4700RSIN , END HIM!, Kairo Kitana , Levi Zadoff , Butterfly, and AUDREYISAROSE , XEMNAS is currently working on more features from artists this year, including a feature with Frankie from Emmure . Recent releases include the tracks " Myhearthurts ," “ Idontwannadie ”, and “ Dear God ," which are available to stream on Apple Music now. “ Myhearthurts ” begins as a hauntingly beautiful guitar track and maintains the pace throughout with lyrics speaking of survival, love, and perseverance. It is a departure from some of XEMNAS’ other works but is perfect in its simplicity. “ Idontwannadie ” has a dance beat and sounds nothing like previous releases from XEMNAS. It’s more in vain with electronic body music, or EBM. I will say that with every release from XEMNAS, no two tracks sound the same, which I love. I never know what the sound experience will be like when I listen to a new track from XEMNAS. With a knack for throwing his entire heart, soul, and being into everything he creates XEMNAS’ passion shines and exemplifies perseverance in a market currently oversaturated with talent. Ethereal electronic soundscapes make up the brunt of XEMNAS’ music, with an enigmatic persona adding an extra layer of intrigue to the music. With all he has created and continues to create, one must ask, “Who is XEMNAS?”. With a penchant for anonymity, XEMNAS chooses to let his art speak for itself, allowing you to be fully immersed in the sonic universe that has been crafted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VapIQNM0EVU We had the opportunity to speak with the masterful and mysterious XEMNAS at length recently about anything and everything. He truly is a remarkable being with a larger-than-life presence. Take a moment to learn a little more below. MaM : Let’s just dive right in, shall we? “ Iwannacry! "—the inspiration behind the song? How did the concept all come together? By the way, I really dig this track. XEMNAS : “ Iwannacry! ” is a big letter to myself. I felt lost and forsaken and just wanted to give up until I started listening to some of my favorite old bands and fell in love with music all over again, then boom! I just started writing and haven’t stopped. I’ve been getting very personal with this music lately because I want to connect with more people through my art. MaM : How would you describe the music that you make? XEMNAS : That’s a tough question. I don’t like to put myself in a genre or box, but I lean more towards Midwest Emo and metalcore with a dab of post-hardcore. I just enjoy making art, truly. All kinds. Credit: Facebook MaM : Who do you draw inspiration from lyrically and vocally? XEMNAS : Lyrically, I pull inspiration from the darkest and hardest moments of my life, but I like to take the negative aspects and try to convert them into something more beautiful. Vocally, I pull inspiration from bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Pierce The Evil, Deftones, This Wildlife, Dice, and also from more modern artists like JuiceWrld, SoFaygo, SuicideBoys, XXXXTentacion, and Lil Peep. MaM : Who or what are your songs about? XEMNAS : My songs are the leftover and in-the-moment emotions from my pain down to my happiest moments. My songs are my deepest secrets, feelings, and fantasies. Sometimes it’s the anger or sadness from a situation where someone hurt you, or sometimes it’s words we never get to say to someone, but my music is my story. Photo provided by artist MaM : That’s incredible. I see you have the “Gemini” EP out, but do you have plans to record an album in the future? XEMNAS : The “Gemini” EP project helped me find the sound and direction for my music that I really wanted to be remembered for. It has been a journey. I have been working on two albums in secret, actually, and I’ll be posting more about that after I’m done touring for the next few months. MaM : Where did you record your material or music? XEMNAS : I’m not gonna lie, making music is very personal for me, and it’s hard to find an engineer who can truly see my vision, so I set up my studio and engineer myself. Much more of a reward when you put out a song with sweat and tears. Photo provided by artist MaM : Are you currently performing any live shows? Where have you played recently? XEMNAS : I’ve been doing a lot of shows recently. I played in Vegas with Nascar Aloe and in LA with Kxllkodi and Lil Tracy. More recently, though, I’ve been playing underground shows in South Florida, mainly because I just moved out here. I plan to start touring on April 14, so stay tuned! Credit: Facebook MaM : What are you currently working on creatively? XEMNAS : As of recently, I’ve been experimenting with styles as I’ve learned that I can train my voice to sound like whatever I want, but my favorite projects would be my alternative and acoustic art. These new projects allowed me to dive deeper into myself and show my fans a different side of me. I just released four new songs on all platforms: Dear God , Myhearthurts , and Hell Girl (my favorite). The plan is also to release a song every week until the tour starts. MaM: What are your aspirations for the future? XEMNAS : I’ve been doing a lot of underground shows and festivals and slowly being placed on bigger stages with bigger names. My next move is to play a huge festival like Rolling Loud and take my art overseas, but it would be even cooler if they brought back Warped Tour because I’ve always wanted to perform on a stage there. As XEMNAS continues pushing boundaries with music and mystery, one thing remains certain: this journey is far from over. With each new release, the listener is encouraged to explore the depths of imagination and embrace the unknown, reminding us that in the vast expanse of the musical universe, anything is possible. To experience the music of XEMNAS, just hit one of the links below and then go follow him on social media. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kingoftheheartless Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/xemnas/1720084648 www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Strays is a sweet, hysterical, raunchy comedy featuring potty-mouthed dogs in one of the best animal movies ever made. < Back Strays: Feast Upon This Keeley Brooks Oct 13, 2023 Share Strays is a sweet, hysterical, raunchy comedy featuring potty-mouthed dogs in one of the best animal movies ever made. Rating: 4 out 5 foul-mouthed Boston Terriers Strays is probably one of the best animal movies ever made. Yes, yes, I hear you all screaming at me about Milo & Otis and Black Beauty and all the others, but did any of them feature foul-mouthed dogs with a flair for the obscene and nasty, kind of like that one Jimmy Buffet song that makes most “squares” uncomfortable (i.e., “Why Don’t We Get Drunk”)? Nope? I didn’t think so, and that’s precisely why you’re gonna want to watch Strays ! Directed by Josh Greenbaum ( Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar ), Strays features a whopping all-star cast that includes Will Ferrell ( Anchorman ), Randall Park ( Totally Killer ), Isla Fisher ( Wedding Crashers ), Jamie Foxx ( Ray ), Josh Gad ( Ghostbusters: Afterlife ), Harvey Guillén ( What We Do in the Shadows ), Rob Riggle ( 21 Jump Street ), Brett Gelman ( Stranger Things ), Jimmy Tatro ( American Vandal ), Dennis Quaid ( The Day After Tomorrow ), Phil Morris ( Doom Patrol ), Jamie Demetriou ( Barbie ), Sofía Vergara ( Modern Family ), and Greta Lee ( Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ). Strays is lovingly brought to us by “the humans” who gave us 21 Jump Street (2012) and Cocaine Bear (2023), so right off the bat, you know this flick is gonna be hella funny. And it is. Nevermind those critics who’ve said that Strays , “wants to startle us with its tonal shifts … but its wild careening from sentimental to super scuzzy makes it seem like the moviemakers lost track of what they were trying to do.” To them I say: LIGHTEN UP, FRANCES. You knew it was a raunchy comedy going into it. No one expected Strays to be an Oscar contender, but we all like a good time, and Strays is absolutely that. (Warning: Video below features foul language!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGKmwKSpxeg The R-rated comedy follows the life of Reggie (Ferrell), a super sweet but extremely naïve and gullible Border Terrier who’s more of a glass-half-full personality. It’s a great role for Ferrell, allowing him to return to the nature of his character in Elf. credit: Universal Pictures Reggie lives with his owner, Doug (Will Forte, of Macgruber ), who’s a complete and total dick as far as pet owners go and a total loser as far as grownups go. Doug has no job, no money, no life, and no girlfriend, and he spends his days being a slob, smoking pot, guzzling beer, and living off his struggling mother’s social security checks. Will Forte as Doug (credit: Universal Pictures) Reggie loves Doug and thinks he’s a great pet owner who likes to play Reggie’s favorite game: “Fetch & F**k.” This is where Doug drives somewhere and throws a tennis ball then leaves while Reggie searches, hoping Reggie won’t find his way home. When he does show up with the tennis ball in his mouth, Doug’s response is always, “F**k.” So, one day after Reggie accidentally breaks Doug’s favorite bong, Doug drives Reggie four hours away to a big city, backs up to an alley, then throws the tennis ball for Reggie to chase. When Reggie runs after it, Doug leaves. Sad, right? It really is, right up until the moment Reggie meets Bug (Foxx), a once-owned-but-now-stray Boston Terrier with street smarts, a sharp tongue, lots of love, and a giant, tough-talkin’ personality. And as a recent Boston Terrier mama, I can say this personality is quite accurate. When Reggie tells Bug how he wound up in the alley, Bug tells Reggie his owner left him on purpose and he’s now a stray, then befriends him and decides to help him adjust. credit: Universal Pictures As Bug walks Reggie through the city, he tells Reggie there are three rules to being a stray: (1) If you want it, pee on it. (2) You can hump whatever you want. (3) You’re on your own: “You’re a stray now! You can do anything you want!” Bug also takes the time to point out how weird and mean humans can be. Bug notes that while they’re awesome because they drop food all the time, they’re also evil because they collect dog poop and snip the balls off of male dogs. Bug says humans love "this thing called chocolate,” and he’s convinced the reason chocolate is so good to humans is because the secret ingredients are dog poop and dog balls. So, along the way, Bug and Reggie hit the park, where Reggie befriends other animal companions: Maggie (Fisher), a person-owned Australian Shepherd who doubles as a scent queen, and Hunter (Park), a Great Dane (i.e., “the muscle”) who is a former police dog turned therapy dog, who always wears a cone—not for a medical reason but because it makes him feel safe. Hilarious, right? I know. credit: Universal Pictures credit: Universal Pictures When Reggie introduces himself to the pack, he says his name is, “Shitbag, or sometimes Dumbass Shitbag … or F**k Nugget.” When Maggie asks if that’s what his owner calls him and Reggie says yes, she, Hunter, and Bug kindly point out that those aren’t terms of endearment and that Doug sucks. As Reggie’s shiny, innocent reality shatters right before his sweet little eyes, his sadness turns to anger as, with the group's encouragement, he declares he’s going to find his way back home and take away Doug’s favorite toy: “I’m gonna bite his dick off." So, together the four embark on a long journey to get Reggie home, whereupon they encounter vicious predators, animal control officers, the wrath of God, and even some mind-altering mushrooms. There’s a lot about Strays that make it a must-own movie. In addition to its script and cast, Strays features an outstanding soundtrack full of N.W.A., Ludacris, Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Tony K, Travis Scott, Reem, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd (with Playboi Carti and Madonna), Post Malone, and more. And guys, these songs are paired with the perfect accompanying scenes, most of which are shot in super creative slow motion with epic comedic undertones. Sometimes overtones. Strays is packed levity throughout the cruelty driving the story, such as the festival scene. Reggie tells the group he remembers passing “a big wheel in the sky and it smelled like hot dogs.” Maggie goes to work and picks up a scent, leading the gang right to the county fair. As the strays make their way through the crowd of humans, Reggie steals a link of hot dogs. When the others find out he stole from a human, they panic, but Reggie tells them to relax, “No one saw.” At that very moment, fireworks erupt and Hunter shouts, “GOD SAW!” as they all freak out and run, thinking God is trying to bomb them for stealing hot dogs from a human. That scene, ladies and gents, is side-splitting hysterical. It’s so good, you’ll back it up and watch it again. Likewise, in another great moment, as the dogs stop to howl, it turns out that all can howl except for Hunter, who literally howls by saying the word “howww-ling.” It’s quite adorable. As a former Great Dane owner, I can attest that what they do sounds more like a “roooo” than a howl. Then there’s the scene where the dogs come upon a sea of mushrooms and think they’re food, so they eat as many as they can … and proceed to trip their balls off. It makes for one psychedelic good time, as the strays hallucinate a gaggle of toys they then proceed to tear up. When they awaken the next morning and realize the toys were actual rabbits, they feel like serial killers and leave the forest in shame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmWQmj7GJjk There’s even a story within this story that focuses on a little girl gone missing, whom the strays actually come across and rescue. It’s very, very sweet. And, I’ll go ahead and spoil it for you because it’s no big surprise, but Reggie does make it home to Doug and bite his dick off in an epic scene of vengeance that plays out to Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball.” Overall, Strays is absolutely one of the best animal movies ever made, for adults only. It’s a beautiful story of awareness, friendship, family, and brotherhood—er, doghood—as well as courage and strength. The writing is funny and clever, remaining sweet with endearing moments, and all dogs featured in Strays were absolutely amazing. In fact, they all were legit strays adopted and trained or came from the pound and were adopted and trained. For more on that, go down the YouTube rabbit hole and enjoy that ride. Strays is currently streaming exclusively on Peacock and available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Video On Demand, and Prime Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzwOLKTbCUw Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with a voracious appetite for entertainment consumption and an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 < Back Eclipse Fest: A Pillar of the Louisiana Alternative Scene Nick Cline Dec 3, 2024 Share Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 What is Eclipse Fest ? This question has been thrown around a lot since its first incarnation at the beginning of 2024, and that only escalated once the show happened on June 15th, 2024 . Well, who better to answer the question? Hello, my name is Nick Cline , and I am the mastermind behind Eclipse Fest . Click to go to the Facebook page for Eclipse Fest 2025 Eclipse Fest is my brainchild, which I concocted in January 2024. It started as a statement of ability and love for the scene but became something I did not expect. It became more than a statement of ability. It became a statement for a unified scene across all the genres that desperately need light shined on them. I started Eclipse Fest because I genuinely love music. I love the community music makes regardless of who you are. Music truly binds us together as a people. That is the energy I put into the tireless hours I pour into the festival. The statement and mission I bring are an extension of my love of music, community, media, and everything in between. The craziest part of Eclipse Fest is that I have, for the most part, handled most of the planning stages by myself. Before Eclipse Fest 2024 , I had zero experience planning events, marketing on a big scale, or anything like that. I was solely working on my band, Phantum Sun . That changed once I took the mantle of running and concocting Eclipse Fest . I took the vision in my head and threw it into the wild. The event brought a lot of shine to the scene through unorthodox booking styles, genres that on paper shouldn't work together, and whatever other plans I had that would give a typical event planner a reason for a thousand-second glance. I'm shocked that it turned out as good as it did, but the help I had leading up to it, the connections I made going through the process, and the bands were a tremendous part of the success. I aim to make Eclipse Fest 2025 an even bigger statement for the overall scene. It will be a statement of the great original music that Louisiana can provide from one side of the state to the other. Finally, it will be a statement of community. Announcements will start rolling out on the first Friday of January ! Stay tuned because you won't want to miss this one! We have an amazing line-up of talent, and some of these bands are going to blow your mind. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Biff Swenson is helping to foster a community of independent creatives. < Back Biff Swenson: An Architect of Asbury Park’s Indie Scene Nicole Brice Jun 2, 2025 Share Biff Swenson is helping to foster a community of independent creatives. When I first discovered the Asbury Park music scene, I found it to be a vibrant mix of sounds and genres, offering something for everyone, and I wanted to learn more. However, I didn’t know much about the locals who make things happen. Enter Biff Swenson. Biff is a key player in this community of creatives, as he plays in eight different bands and organizes the Happy Mondays series at The Wonder Bar , a role he has maintained since a couple of years after the COVID-19 pandemic along with his fellow musician and co-conspirator Brian Erickson. Credit: Jeff Crespi The Happy Mondays series is a showcase that offers a platform for local musicians, particularly at a time when many venues tend to focus primarily on cover bands and established artists. No particular format or genre rules are in place, as Biff is a multi-talented instrumentalist and vocalist himself, who fills various roles across his own projects, contributing whatever is needed. After a decade of being in existence, the Happy Mondays series has proven to be an excellent community outreach staple for the original music community of Asbury Park, New Jersey , and Biff is one of the guys that makes it happen. Credit: Jeff Crespi Our favorite New Jersey photographer, Jeff Crespi , has echoed these sentiments about the Happy Mondays series and its impact on the scene: “With all the smaller venues closing up, having Happy Mondays at a professional, well-known venue is incredibly essential. Professional audio and visual components on top of getting paid, and a stacked green room with snacks and drinks provided.” When I first heard about Biff , I was intrigued to explore his music, but I was left wondering: which band should I check out to get me started? With so many options to choose from, it was overwhelming, but I managed to dive into at least three, and after completing this interview, I had many more to check out. Credit: Jeff Crespi Biff Swenson is a genuine Renaissance man , dedicating his time to a diverse range of projects that span nearly every genre. His infectious enthusiasm makes him an invaluable asset to the Asbury Park music scene. Through an introduction from one of my favorite people, Jeff Crespi , I had the opportunity to learn more about Biff and his various endeavors. Although he initially presents as a typical alternative music enthusiast when you first meet him, our conversations revealed a much deeper and more complex personality. One full of laughter and wisdom. His creative passion is a driving force behind the Happy Mondays series, which he aims to keep inclusive and open to all styles and genres. If you ask him to book you, he will, regardless of whether he likes your music, as Happy Mondays is dedicated to fostering a community of independent creatives. Biff is THE man with many plans, and they usually involve more people. Read on to learn more. MaM : So, let’s dive in – I’ve heard you play in six bands. Tell me a little more about that. Biff : It’s actually eight. (laughter) MaM : Wow … eight bands … tell me what the genres are and the differences between them all? Biff : We have a very incestual crew. (laughter) There are four core guys, and between them, there are probably 15 or 16 bands total. We mostly just all play for each other. With Grasser , I write all the lyrics, but I’m not necessarily the lead singer. Dana Why is the singer of Grasser’s solo project, but we all play as his backing band. Bristler is Rudy’s band that he fronts, but then Dana and I are his rhythm section, so it’s like we’re aging. (laughter) We found the people who are willing to work hard and are not thrown off by the manner in which we carry ourselves. We jokingly say, at this point, it’s just mental illness. (laughter) Everytime we add a new band, we’re just unwell. (laughter) We found a really cool group of people, and this is our “golf”. What else are we gonna do? Sit around and watch TV? We spend most nights in our rehearsal space and studio. Some nights, we’re recording from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for Bristler , and then from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., we have Grasser practice. After that, we’ll do a shoot for a Yawn Mower music video . So, it’s usually seven days a week, and we miss most holidays. (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Sounds about right. So, what bands are we missing? You mentioned Grasser, Dana Why, Bristler, Yawn Mower, and what else? Biff : Grasser is like a genre-less pop R&B hip-hop infused, but very punk rock ethos of DIY. We handle everything from engineering and mixing to mastering, artwork, photography, music videos, and more. The hardest thing to pull off with that band is live shows because it’s an eight-piece band. It began as a mostly recording project, which we eventually turned into a live band. It’s the most fun to do, but the most difficult to wrangle in and make happen. Yawn Mower is our most active band, and the one that I’ve been doing the longest. We hit ten years in August. That band started as a fuzzy rock two-piece, but at this point, members of all the other bands have joined, and it’s become a full band. We tour the most and even played at the Sea.Hear.Now.Festival a couple of years ago. It was the biggest thing we’ve ever done. Yawn Mower gets the most opportunities just based on how long we’ve been doing it. Bristler is a subdued indie rock band , reminiscent of Minus the Bear , Death Cab for Cutie , and Modest Mouse . MaM : Hell yeah Biff : Dana produces and sings for Grasser so that you would expect a lot of overlapping. He’s very introverted and maximalist, so most of his songs are pretty long, and they feel more cinematic than they do rock. It’s very ethereal, and you cannot passively listen to Dana’s music. If you’re not looking to hear an album, then it’s not for you. MaM : Right? Biff : So, some people find that one to be the most difficult to dive into, but it’s rewarding. He spends the most time on the most minute details that only a music fan is going to acknowledge or appreciate. Prop House is my newest band. I play bass in that band, whereas in my other bands, I typically play drums. It’s got like a 2000s emo revival sound, kind of like Thursday or Title Fight . Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : That’s awesome. I don’t know how you do it all. So, I have been told you are THE person to speak to about booking a show for Happy Mondays at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Tell me a little more about how you got involved with that? Biff : The series started in town over a decade ago, and it’s switched hands many times. I believe I may be the sixth person to take over this role. I do all this with Brian Erickson ; he’s in a few bands around town. It was a staple here. We used to have a lot of smaller venues – 150-capacity rooms. There was a place called The Saint , and if you started a band, your first show was always at The Saint. It was never a “no”. Always allowed. We lost it after COVID, and so there are no real small rooms anymore, and the ones that are still out there don’t have sound, lights, or a stage. They’re all DIY. Post-COVID, Happy Mondays still hadn’t come back, and I reached out to see what I could do since we are an original music town. Ended up finding out that Brian had reached out before me, so they had the idea of us just doing it together. We took it back over, and this is our third year doing it. It’s community outreach. It does not make money, but it’s where new bands started. That’s what it always was. Have you heard of the band Separatr ? MaM : Yes! Love them! I actually got to interview them twice. They have had quite a journey. Biff : The first week they were in town, they approached me about booking a show, and it was a no-brainer after they told me their story. I was like, done. You guys can play. Anyone who has committed their lives to music to move across the country, like them, deserves to play. Booking Happy Mondays for me is about building connections and networking. It’s not that I enjoy booking shows I’m not playing, but every week when I’m feeling down and out or burnt out, there’s always one person who comes up to me at a Happy Mondays show and says the right thing at the right time, and then it all makes sense. This is very affirming. This is why it exists. Since I’m a drummer and I live in town, I always seem to have a spare drum kit in my car. (laugher) Biff : So many weeks, though, someone will show up and not have a drum set, so I’m like, ‘You can use mine.’ Then they’ll ask me, ‘Are you playing tonight?’, and I’m like ‘no.’ (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Just gotta have that extra drum kit no matter what. Biff : Sometimes, they’ll go, ‘I don’t have a bass amp.’ I’ll be like, ‘No problem. My rehearsal space is just down the street. I’ll be right back.’ It’s about community. MaM : I’ve got a curveball for you, so we have a huge cover band scene down here. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming because a good majority of the venues will only book you if you play covers. What’s the cover band scene like up there in Jersey? Tell us a little more about the scene up there in general. Biff : Well, New Jersey , in general, is like cover band central. Asbury is an original music city, but ya know. Well, once COVID was over, I actually was in a cover band for a couple of years, and did it for money, but left because it wasn’t what I wanted to play, and it wasn’t fulfilling. Playing ‘ Flagpole Sitta ’ every night just wasn’t doing it for me. MaM : Throw a little Harvey Danger in there, why not … (laughter) Biff : The people I was in that cover band with were all guys from original bands, and after two years of not a single free weekend, we decided it was dumb. I think Asbury is Bruce country, and so there are a ton of classic Bruce-esque cover bands. People do respect you more for doing original music here, but nobody is shitting on cover bands. We have New Brunswick , which is about an hour away from here, and it is punk. 110% DIY punk. It’s where all the house shows are. If a band isn’t from Asbury , they are from New Brunswick. That would be the alternative. Then there is Jersey City, which is pretty much New York. It’s right at the top of the state, and you can see New York from there. They have a really cool music scene, but it’s really lo-fi. It’s punk in ethos, but dogshit in quality. People don’t mind out of tune guitars and piss drunk singers. Always a packed house. Jersey City has a place called Pet Shop , and it’s just a bar. No stage. No PA. No lights. But 100-150 people are going to be there every night. It’s one of the only hubs to see that type of stuff. Outside of those three scenes, though, it’s just cover bands. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : When did you first discover your love for music, and what band made you want to play music? Biff : There’s a couple of pillar points with this. Even today, I love hip-hop . I listen to more hip-hop than I do new bands because bands are getting worse. (laughter) Biff : At a young age, I got into rap, and then my sister, who is seven years older than me, brought home Green Day’s Dookie on cassette, knowing I was into hip-hop . She was like, ‘Yo, these guys curse a lot.’ I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool,’ so I listened to it, and that was the first time rock music seemed cool to me. It wasn’t all 80s hair metal. After a few more years, around sixth grade, I discovered Blink-182 , and they are 100% the reason I started playing music. As a drummer, even today, my friends often tease me because I tend to overplay the drums. I’m always in the pocket. I’m always like, ‘We could put a ton of shit there! This song could use a little more. Travis Barker would put a fill right there.’ (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, you become like Animal from Muppet Babies ? (laughter) Biff : Exactly. I’ve been told that I look like Animal when I’m playing, but I don’t care about what I look like when I play. I only care about how it sounds. My first real concert was actually Green Day and Blink-182 together. MaM : Wow, I think I remember that – what year was that? Biff : 1999? Maybe? Around then. MaM : I’ve never seen Blink live, but I saw Green Day in like 2003? Maybe? Biff : It was The Pop Disaster Tour , if I remember, and Saves the Day opened. MaM : I used to love Saves the Day. They just dropped off the face of the earth. Biff : That day, though, I was watching Green Day pull kids on stage on the biggest stage in Jersey , in my eyes, and I was thinking about how I could do that and achieve that. Another thing, too, I was a church kid. Grew up around the church and even played in the church band. That’s how a lot of musicians cut their teeth playing music, though, because the church can’t exactly tell you no. After all, you’re doing it for the Lord. Oddly enough, the church influenced my music playing as much as Blink-182’s dick and fart jokes did. (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, do you only play bass and drums, or can you play guitar, too? What’s your favorite instrument to play? Biff : I can play guitar, too, but I’m so bad in comparison to all of my friends. Drums are the one I am most comfortable on, and you can see the most of my personality in them. I’ve put in over 10,000 hours on the drums. (laughter) That’s the one where I’m reliable. I sing in Grasser , and that’s the most fun. I’ve been sitting down at my instrument for over 20 years, so any opportunity to stand at the front of the stage, and I’m like, ‘It’s really cool up here. You guys must have a lot of fun up here.’ I’m most able to serve a song on drums. When I play bass, it’s just like … tell me what to play. It’s so rare that I’m like, ‘What about this?’ (laughter) Bass is just the rhythm section. I like to play the bass for the drummer, but I’m never playing to make people be like, ‘Yo, the bassist is really good!’ (laughter) No, it’s like, the bassist made the drummer look really good. (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : When it comes to writing new music for one of your gazillion bands, how do you approach that? Biff : It used to be compartmentalized, but in the last few years, it’s been more of an amalgamation of all of it. For Grasser , I'll demo the whole song, from soup to nuts, including bass, drums, vocals, and then I’ll send it to the group. Anything is up for change, so if the guitar part sucks, just delete it. Bristler is all Rudy . Dana Why is all him. Yawn Mower , the singer, Mike would write everything, and I’m just drumming on it. Since we became a full band, we have become a collective . Since the collective has been active as a group, it has been a collaborative writing process. Credit: Jeff Crespi Our new album is coming out soon. On that, I started three of the songs on guitar, Dana began two, and Mike brought full fleshed out ideas, but was open to all of us. As a singer, that’s fun. Now, I can write a whole melody and a batch of lyrics I would not have come up with on my own. It started with Grasser . I love to free associate. I love to riff. Eventually, it becomes this Frankenstein sentence that means nothing to nobody, but that’s when I think it’s a great idea to use it. We spend so much time together that we have our own language. We’re slowly not using regular words anymore. (laughter) By November, the four of us will have put out twenty albums in two years. Yes, you read that last line correctly. Biff Swenson is undoubtedly a seasoned artist and musician who will continue making music as long as he can. His dedication is truly inspiring, and I'm excited to see what he does next. I highly recommend that you create a list of the bands he has mentioned, look them up, and give their music a listen, and if you are in the Asbury Park area, stop in at the Wonderbar and discover some new talent. Where to learn more about Biff and his gazillion bands: Instagram: Yawn Mower Instagram: Grasser Instagram: Dana.why Instagram: ProphouseNJ Instagram: Bristler Instagram: Earth Telephone Instagram: Scumming Band Instagram: Quiltary *Photos by the one and only Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Spyne!’s music is raw unfiltered rock with a nod to the classics. < Back The Dynamic Sound of the New Jersey Band Spyne Nicole Brice Mar 2, 2024 Share Spyne!’s music is raw unfiltered rock with a nod to the classics. In the 90s, the musical landscape was full of rock tunes, but over the years the music being pushed to the masses has changed, taking on a different sound and vibe. With the industry focused more on overproduction and autotune, newer generations of independent musicians are starting to bring rock music back to where it belongs – on top. By reinventing guitar-driven music for a new generation, these bands are looking to make a revolutionary change by authentically creating tunes full of originality. New Jersey is known for its vibrant music scene and is continually churning out all sorts of musical creatives. Formed in New Jersey in 2021, the band Spyne! is steadily making a name for themselves on the local music scene, and includes frontman and rhythm guitarist Kyle Moyer, drummer Eric Muhler, lead guitarist Liam Muhler, and bassist Toni Manousos. Full of personality and charisma, Spyne! are four talented musicians on a mission to push boundaries and create music that resonates with listeners on a deep level, and the best way to describe Spyne!’s music, for those not familiar, is it is unfiltered rock with hints of punk and pop. It is simply feel-good rock. The band’s latest single “ Win ” was released on September 15, 2023, and is an anthem for any underdog facing criticism. With crisp, clean bluesy guitars and powerful vocals, the chorus asks, “Yeah what if I win?” in a sort of mocking tone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57hhuIemfqg One of the defining features of the band’s sound on this track is Kyle’s powerful and soulful vocals , which could be compared to Daniel Johns from Silverchair meets Wolfgang Van Halen meets Dave Grohl . His dynamic range and emotive delivery add depth and intensity to all the band’s songs creating a powerful and enjoyable listening experience. Since their formation, Spyne! has been steadily releasing new music, and their debut EP, “ Away ”, released in 2022, showcases the band’s raw talent with an enjoyable 14 minutes of sound. Spyne! is currently working on a full-length album to be released in the future, but in the meantime, you can stay up to date on all their music via their social media. With a growing catalog of original songs and dynamic live shows, Spyne! is poised to continue making a name for themselves in the music industry and their solid booked calendar for 2024 can attest to that. Credit: Photo provided by band Mixed Alternative Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the guys in Spyne! recently to discuss aspirations, what makes them so unique, and upcoming plans. Take a moment to learn a little more about this talented and comedic group of musicians and then go stream their music and crank it up to 11. MaM : Hey guys, thanks for chatting with us today. First question – where did the band name and clever logo come from? Kyle : So, this goes back to me and our old drummer. We were sitting around, and he had just gotten done with treatment for scoliosis, so the name “spine” popped into our heads. We decided to add the “y” for a different take on the spelling and then the exclamation point at the end to show emphasis, so it reads as “Spyne!”. Also, too, with the “y”, it looks like a crooked back. MaM : What got each of you into music initially? Liam : I initially got into music because every member of my family plays an instrument, and we all play different instruments, so that has definitely been an influential factor in my interest in music. It was almost destined to happen and just seemed normal. I love all sorts of genres and we all have a different style, so it all just meshes well. Eric : Since Liam and I are brothers, you know we had a pretty similar upbringing. Both of our parents are teachers, so there was always a push for us to do something with music. Over the years, I tried numerous instruments, so it was about finding something I wanted to stick with. I started playing the drums, and over time, that ended up being the instrument that stuck with me. Toni : I was always fascinated with people moving people with their music. I think it’s a very powerful thing. Kyle : The earliest memory I have is listening to a bunch of different CDs in my mom’s car on the way to school. Growing up, I had a lot of eye surgeries done in New York, so we would have some long drives from New Jersey to New York and I remember listening to a lot of Deep Purple , Aerosmith , Van Halen , and anything classic rock , to be honest. My mom and dad were huge influences on my music taste, though. They introduced me to some great stuff. Credit: Photo provided by band MaM: That’s great parenting! How would you describe the music you typically create now? Kyle : I guess you could say it’s got a classic rock sound with a modern twist. We’re not trying to copy anyone, but we’re looking for a new sound that incorporates things from the past. Liam : I like to think of it as reinventing classic rock. An extension of an already rich tradition, but for a different demographic … more for our age group. I don’t feel like we’re making music to appeal to an older audience but more to a diverse audience. MaM : How do you approach writing music? Take us through the creative process. I read that you’re going to release a full-length album later this year, so tell us a little more about all of that, too. Liam : We are very privileged to have a great songwriter in Kyle. He writes from the heart and with his songwriting and Eric’s drumming skills, it’s just an excellent combination for Toni and me to add some riffs and harmony. We have a great formula and with live performances, we can stretch our muscles a little bit to change up the songs for the performance. Maybe change up a solo here or there. Our chemistry has these really consistent roles. Kyle : He’s right on the dot. It starts with me and then goes to Eric and then to the other two guys. We’re very lucky. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : If you could collaborate with any musician in the future, who would it be and why? Kyle : There are so many. I love Dave Grohl and have been a Foo Fighters fan since I was 12 years old, but I love Aerosmith, too. Liam : So, I have a bad answer for this. If I could collaborate with any artist, it would have to be Bruce Springsteen so I could complain to him. (laughter) No matter where I play or where I go, people keep mentioning him. The funny thing is that everyone around me has said they have met or seen Springsteen , so I feel like I owe it to myself to meet him. Everyone sitting at this table today has seen Springsteen . I’ve even done two Springsteen tributes in other bands, and I have yet to see or meet the guy. (laughter) MaM : If you ever do meet him, you need to tell him that he’s like Waldo … where’s Bruce ? (laughter) Toni : Paul McCartney for me. He’s influenced me the most. Eric : Rise Against for me. I would love to work with them and meet them. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : You guys are younger than me, and probably can’t remember a time without it, but how do you feel the internet has impacted the current state of the music industry? Liam : I think that the internet has fundamentally changed how we advertise things. I think that part of interacting with these social media platforms means that you must play by their rules a good bit and so we try to keep up with all of that. We try to put up cute and funny posts every so often. Something that can promote things seriously, but have a punchline, too. Sometimes having a sense of humor with what you post helps because it shows that your material is friendly and inviting. Kyle : I feel the same as Liam. Doing cute and funny things is great, but we’ve seen a good bit of changes with the internet just through the time we’ve grown up. Everything is so accessible now. Growing up it was more recreational, but since the 2010s, it feels like everything is media. The biggest struggle for us has been getting people to the shows, and in the past, it was more about just supporting the venues. Today, it’s so hard to pull people in and sometimes it’s the short funny media that makes them come to a show. It’s a learning experience. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Do you have a favorite song to perform live? Eric : “ Away ” or “ Heaven Find You ”. People usually start jumping around during “Away” and it’s just fun to play. With “Heaven Find You”, I’m a big fan of the drum part I wrote for the song and love playing it. The chorus of the song is well-received by the fans, too. Toni : I think “ Win ” is my favorite original song to play. It’s just one of the best Spyne! songs and fun to play. Now, our cover of “ No One Knows ” by Queens of the Stone Age is one of the best we’ve done, and everyone loses their minds when we play it, too. Kyle : I don’t have an answer since I wrote all the songs. (laughter) I love each one. If I had to pick, though, it would be “ By the Bay ” and “ Heaven Find You ”. I also like it when we play “ Pride and Joy ” by Stevie Ray Vaughan, too. Liam : I’m going to start with my favorite cover to play live. Generally, with the covers, I love it when the songs have a good solo section because I like to make up stuff a lot. The guys give me a good bit of freedom to go crazy, but we played a cover at our last set at The Stone Pony by Kiss … we did “ Love Gun ”. That fulfilled something for my inner child because I grew up listening to Twisted Sister and other hair metal bands, and I just love the guitar work. With this cover, I was able to go crazy on stage and I think we have a recording of the performance somewhere. As far as originals go, I would have to pick “Win”. It’s got a kickass guitar riff that everybody remembers, and my friends have come up to me after a show to tell me that they really like “Win”. It’s such a terrific song. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Ok, going to throw you guys a funny question. Do any of you have any useless talents outside of the musical realm? Liam : I can juggle pins on a unicycle. (laughter) MaM : That’s awesome. Kyle : I’ve seen that happen. I want to say automotive repair because I suck at it, but it’s not exactly useless. I can play drums on my stomach and can do that incredibly well for no reason. (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, when can we expect the new album? Where do you see yourself headed in the future? Kyle : We’re looking towards 2024, but I have a feeling it will push into 2025. We want it to be right. We have these songs that are an amalgamation of everything perfect. We want it mixed the way we want, and I think we’re going to fulfill our full artistic capabilities. The goal is to open for bigger acts and get our name out there to similar music tastes because the internet isn’t great at that. Liam : I think it’s really good that we’re going to be patient with the process. We’re not the type to rush into releasing something a little bit premature. I want to wrap it with a neat bow when we release it. As Spyne! continues to evolve and explore new musical territories, one thing remains constant – their passion for creating music that connects with people on a visceral level. Whether you’re a fan of rock or alternative, Spyne’s music is sure to resonate with you on a profound level. To check out the music of Spyne!, click the link below. Spyne! | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree *Photos by Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Chillin' with Fred Westra < Back A Humble State of Calmness Keeley Brooks Jan 12, 2023 Share Chillin' with Fred Westra You know that music that plays in yoga studios and on meditation apps, how soothing and relaxing it is? Sometimes it doesn’t even sound like a real person could be playing it because it’s so intricate, so ethereal. But, a real person does play those sweet meditative sounds you zone out on, and thank the stars for the internet because without it, I never would have stumbled across this beautifully artistic gem of a musician, who does just that. He is, without a doubt, sent from another planet to ease the minds of all who are stressed out with day-to-day life and need some gentle vibrations to relax and return us to center. That’s exactly what Fred Westra and his music do. I should know, because I’ve been listening to his music for a few years now when practicing yoga and meditation, and the effects on mind and body have been nothing short of healing. I won’t lie and pretend I don’t visit his YouTube channel from time to time just to watch him play an instrument with which I’m unfamiliar, and that is just as relaxing as listening to what he produces. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN9dZsyFWII Fred is a composer of some of the most calming, creative musical vibes your sweet little ears have ever heard, and that’s an editorial guarantee. Perhaps the only thing better than listening to his music is watching him play these multi-cultural instruments with such tender care and emotion you just can’t help but be moved at your core over what you’re hearing and seeing. He lives in Beverwijk (near Amsterdam) in the Netherlands with his wife, Erika (a former yoga teacher), and is a composer, musician of many different instruments, studio technician, and producer. He’s also a man of deep humility and outward kindness, who positively affects everyone who crosses his path. He’s well known in many yoga circles for the music he produces and is a very popular go-to for teachers when searching for music to accompany their classes. I reached out to Westra on a whim, and he ever so kindly took some time out of his busy schedule to kick it in conversation with me, so settle in all you stressed-out beings; I've got your solution to stress right here. MaM : Fred, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me. You and your music have accompanied me on more meditative journeys than I can count, so this truly is an honor. Tell us what all you play. FW : I play lots of instruments a little bit and I'm specialized in playing the guitar, though I think of myself as a total musician, more composer than musician. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWjLHfQsGZs MaM : When did your creative talents began to emerge? FW : When I was five years old, I heard the music of Ennio Morricone from the movie “Once Upon a Time in the West,” and I remember the sound of the violins and [the] opera voice made a huge impression on me. [To] this day, Morricone is still a great inspiration to me. When I was eight, my parents bought me a guitar. I was always very interested in music, but I did not know what to do with the guitar because I wanted to be a drummer. When I was 10, my neighbor friend [taught] me how to play blues on the guitar, and [I remember how] fantastic [it was] to learn to play! After that, I learned to play tunes from The Shadows (a pre-Beatles era English instrumental rock group) by ear. My taste evolved to Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, and all other famous rock guitarists. I just wanted to be the greatest guitarist alive! MaM : When did you know you wanted to pursue music? FW : I wanted to pursue music when I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan and (Swedish guitarist) Yngwie Malmsteen. These guys where so incredible! They inspired me to practice 10-12 hours a day. MaM : That’s true devotion to honing your craft, man. Very respectable. I understand you used to be in a metal band, Xhausted. Tell us about your time with them and how that took off. FW : In the early 90s, I was very inspired by metal bands like Machine Head and Pantera, so we started the metal band Xhausted. I never had a record deal, so I bought lots of recording equipment to get [one]. We recorded a demo and got [a] deal in Japan! By that time, my son was born, and he cried a lot ... a [whole] lot! My wife and I could barely handle [that] situation, so I quit Xhausted. [And] here's where my dream ended. I think it was a good thing to quit, because I am not the type to go on tour with a band. I love being at home. MaM : Oh, I very much relate to that! I’m an absolute homebody and much prefer to be in my own environment. What made you move towards meditative music? FW : In the early 2000s, my wife asked me to compose some yoga music for her. I was always interested in yoga and meditation music because I loved the positive vibe of [it] … just like nowadays I love the positive vibe of the music of Snatam Kaur (an American singer/songwriter/author who makes Indian devotional music). It makes me feel so peaceful inside. When I was recording metal music, [which is] technically very demanding, I always got a headache. Really. [laughter] It was hard working to play fast, technically, and precise. When I was recording yoga music, I felt very calm. Instead of making music with my head (to impress people creating complicated guitar parts), I was creating music with my heart. About six years ago, I said goodbye to the metal music. I sold most of my electric guitars and all my amps and pedals. I just wanted to focus on yoga music. My wife and daughter say I have ADHD, so creating calming music is almost a must for me. It keeps me grounded. MaM : I’m so glad you said that. That is exactly what your music does for me: grounds me. I don’t just listen for yoga or meditation; I also listen when I’m writing sometimes. Allows me to be more mindful and deliberate in my work. Would you tell us what you are currently involved in doing? FW : At this moment, nothing special … just creating new music for all yoga music lovers, and massage and Reiki therapists. MaM : What’s your relationship with/to music and to the art of meditation through your music? FW : Meditation is always a struggle for me. Can you imagine having ADHD and finding time to meditate? A few times a week, I'll meditate but find it hard to incorporate it into my daily life. Hopefully my music can inspire people to meditate more than I do. MaM : As someone who does not deal with ADHD, I cannot imagine. I just have an anxious brain that never shuts down, and I often find meditation difficult—unless there is soothing music to help me focus. That’s what your stuff does for me, so I’m certain it is doing that for others. Are there any current or upcoming albums? FW : There are always new albums on [the] way! I upload music to digital music stores under three different names: Zentral Ztation, Fred Westra, and The Samata Society. Zentral Ztation is massage and Reiki music. (Click images below to listen.) My newest release under Zentral Ztation is "State of Calmness." The Samata Society is a project I started to collaborate with other musicians, but I don't record with other musicians anymore. The music is more Eastern-oriented and [is] slightly more experimental. The curators of Spotify put together a playlist of Samata Society tunes. [It's all the essential Samata Society tracks in one playlist.] Music released under Fred Westra is yoga and meditation music. My most recent albums under [my name] are "Chakra Flute" and "Earth Frequency." MaM : If there’s a message in your music, what do you intend it to be? FW : If there's a message in my music, it would be acceptance . Every emotion needs to be felt and seen. When I listen to Bach's “Air”, I feel so much emotion. I also think it's unbelievable that someone can create such beautiful music. I hope one day someone thinks the same of my music. Bach's “Air” and Morricone's “Once Upon a Time in the West” are the templates of my music. If you hear one of my songs in minor, you actually hear Bach or Morricone. Mam : What’s next for Fred Westra? FW : Good question! I am 57 now and [have worked] for 40 years in (night) shifts. I hope that my music will [be well received] so I can make a living of it and don't have to work in the steel factory, though I also love this job. Luckily my music is doing very good, and I feel so grateful! MaM : Where can people find you and your music? FW : People can find me on Facebook and my music is on all the digital music stores like Spotify , Apple Music , iTunes , Amazon Music , Deezer , etcetera. And there you have it, my friends. If you're in the market for some creatively soothing tones to wash away your stress and leave you feeling completely rejuvenated amidst the chaos, I urge you to explore Fred's music under all his artist names. He is absolutely worth it, and your body and mind will thank you. *images courtesy of Fred Westra www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Nude Nuns with Big Guns: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Ezekiel Kincaid Share Aug 28, 2023 Nude Nuns with Big Guns accurately captures the grindhouse feel but is riddled with lazy filmmaking Rating: 2.5 out of 5 naked nuns covered in cocaine You know, there is a reason we call this column “What the Hell Did I Just Watch?” … and that was exactly my sentiment after viewing this particular film suggested by a reader: Nude Nuns with Big Guns. Yes, I'm serious. The title alone makes you wonder what you are getting yourself into by watching the film, but what does Nude Nuns with Big Guns offer, and does it live up to its name? In short, the answers to those questions are excess and absolutely. Allow me to explain. Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010) promotes itself as a post-grindhouse exploitation movie, and it is exactly that. The film has a Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino feel to it, complete with the over-the-top antics of one of Tarintino’s spaghetti-style westerns, and its plot is pretty basic for a revenge/exploitation movie: A mentally abused nun is taken captive, made a prostitute, and then left for dead. Finding new life, our vigilante nun receives a call from God to create a Holy War to take out all the nasty drug dealers and sinners—and good for her, because when I say the bad guys in this film are literally the scum of the earth, I truly mean it. You’ll have no qualms about seeing these dirtbags get what’s coming to them. Asun Ortega as Sister Sarah (credit: IMDb) Nude Nuns with Big Guns is directed by Joseph Guzman ( Run! Bitch Run!, Back Alley Butcher ) and has quite an interesting cast of characters. First, there is our vigilante nun, Sister Sarah, played by Asun Ortega ( Diamond Dawgs ). Second, there's our sleazy, heartless antagonist, Chavo (David Castro, of The Lincoln Lawyer ); I also have to mention Father Carlito (Perry D’Marco, of Interceptor Force ), who is one of the numerous corrupt clergy in the film. And last but not least, we have everyone’s favorite henchman, Kick-Stand (Xango Henry, of How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse ). Now, let’s talk about the film itself. I want to start off by saying, if you are offended by nudity then skip this film because there is a ton of it in there. Second, if you are triggered by rape, skip this film . And the henchman Kick-Stand? You know how some gangs have the dude who always roughs people up? That’s Kick-Stand. Except he doesn’t rough women up; he rapes them. And I’ll just let you put the pieces together as to why they call him Kick-Stand. Finally, if watching a movie that portrays clergy in a bad light gets to you, skip this movie . The priests and nuns in Nude Nuns with Big Guns are as corrupt as they come. In fact, the sex, nudity, and rape in Nude Nuns with Big Guns is so overdone, it gets old and boring fast. There was one point in the middle of the movie where I zoned out and started doing other things because every time I looked up, it was like, “Gee, nudity again. Gee, sex again. Oh look, another rape scene. What a shocker.” Worried I had missed something, I went back and rewatched the movie; lo and behold, guess what? Nope, I didn’t miss a damn thing important to the plotline. You might be sitting there thinking, “Well, Zeke, are there any good parts in Nude Nuns with Big Guns ”? And the answer is yes, there are: the first twenty minutes and the last twenty minutes—both of which I really enjoyed. There are a couple of good scenes scattered throughout the middle of the movie, but for the most part, the center portion of Nude Nuns with Big Guns drags along with way too much sex, nudity, and rape as tools to carry its story--it does not work. However, there are some truly hilarious interactions between characters, and we get some of those great, over-the-top scenes of violence we’ve all come to love thanks to grindhouse movies. Director Joseph Guzman does a solid job with accurately capturing the grindhouse feel, as some of the kills in the movie are top notch. credit: IMDb The actors also did a great job at portraying their characters, and, oddly enough for a low budget film, taking their roles super seriously. That being said, those pluses still weren’t enough to carry Nude Nuns with Big Guns into B-movie greatness. I had such high hopes for Nude Nuns with Big Guns --I mean, who wouldn’t with a title like that! But at the end of the day, with the overkill of sex, nudity, and rape, it comes off as lazy filmmaking . All in all, Zeke gives this post-grindhouse film 2.5 out of 5 naked nuns covered in cocaine . You can find Nude Nuns with Big Guns streaming on Tubi for free, and to rent on Prime Video, Vudu, YouTube, Apple TV, and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubtt1RDk_M0 Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

T. Mason and the Bricklayers < Back Laying the Foundation: Brick by Brick Nicole Brice Dec 12, 2022 Share T. Mason and the Bricklayers My late teens and early twenties were filled with nothing but punk music. At 41 years old, getting to hang with punk bands while conducting interviews for Mixed Alt Mag , I feel I am getting a chance to rediscover my youth and it’s almost as if I’m listening to punk music for the first time. Travis Mason has been a fixture on the South Louisiana music scene ever since I can remember. I first was acquainted with his talent and stylings via a friend’s punk band, The Skullniks , when I was 19 years old. With the nickname, “Tiny”, this man is nothing short of even being remotely small and that includes his talent. Getting to hang with him and learn a bit more about what all he brings to the music scene was a hilarious experience and I, literally, look up to him now. No, seriously, he’s so tall that I must stretch my neck to look up at him. May I present T. Mason & the Bricklayers . Josh Selser, Andy Clancy, and Travis Mason of T. Mason and the Bricklayers (credit: Gary Governale) Taking their band name from a combo of his own name and that of his beloved canine friend, this group of guys are full of personality, so get ready! Bricklayers, mount up! The next big band on the scene. I can feel it. The time is long overdue for some new and fresh good old-fashioned pop punk music. The band is comprised of Travis Mason of Justin Bailey on drums and vocals, Josh Selser of DeadCentered on bass, and Andy Clancy , formerly of Starscream’s Revenge, on guitar. Using the three-piece band formula made famous by many others before them, these guys bring the noise both musically and personality wise. credit: Gary Governale When Travis is not focusing on T. Mason and the Bricklayers, he is heavily involved with Justin Bailey , Audrey Seymour , and iLiaka , all of which have different sounds and are of different genres making him a very well-rounded musician. He also runs his own studio out of the house called Volcano Studios , which I had the pleasure of seeing and this beast of a set-up was impressive. What does this man NOT do? Growing up in a strictly country music household where he began writing song lyrics when he was an adolescent and citing Tre Cool from Green Day as the reason for his want and need to play drums at 13 years old, Travis is one of the most ferocious drummers on the kit locally. Not to mention, his sense of humor will leave you in stitches. credit: Gary Governale NB : So, I’ve been checking out some of your stuff and you are so talented. Anyone that can play drums and sing at the same time, do you know how incredible that is? TM : Well, thank you so much. NB : No, dude, I’m just being serious. First, love the band. Love “Future Retro”. TM : Have you gotten a chance to listen to the three-song demo? “Future Retro” is the single, bay-bay. NB : Yes, love it, too. Not sure if you’ve gotten this comparison, but if Fat Mike from NOFX joined Face to Face, that’s T. Mason & the Bricklayers. TM : Oh, honey, that is high praise. Thank you so much. Face to Face is like my favorite vocalist. NB : Your music takes me back to those days of skateboarding and just listening to music and just hanging out and it’s that feel good punk rock sound that we need these days. TM : Because when you’re young, especially in those times it’s like every day was an adventure and anything could happen and you’re on the edge of eternity. You get together with your friends and every day is a new exploration into something amazing. You’re working at McDonald’s three days a week, not giving a damn. Yep, I can see that. NB : I see good things for your band, because I don’t know if you notice, but the type of punk you play is making a comeback. It’s like there is a nostalgia for it. They say time repeats and it’s coming back, dude. So, Demolition demo, you have it on Bandcamp, but are you doing physical CDs at the shows? TM : Right. Exactly. I’ve got a CD burner and I’m burning them myself and putting in the work, writing on them, the whole handmade feel to it. NB : Well, you know that’s the whole punk aesthetic, the DIY attitude. Just do it yourself. So, production. Did you do all the production and recording on this yourself, too? TM : Absolutely. Very proud to be able to work on a lot of that self-sufficiently. I have a lot on there that I recorded myself, but I also had some other people help me mix it and finalize it and all. I’m finally getting confident enough to put out stuff I did solely in house, which is an achievement. It might not be as good as some of the other stuff, but I take a lot of pride in the fact that I took it from conception to production and then a final product. NB : Knuckles, homie. TM : That’s right, knuckle up! The thing I’m most proud of is the band I’ve put together. We’ve got Josh Selser on bass, kind of like a secret weapon, but it ain’t no secret that guy gets right out front with it. Everybody tells me after they hear us play or hear a recording, “Man, your bass player”, and I’m like, “I know”. credit: Gary Governale NB : Josh is so talented as a musician, and I keep telling him that. TM : Yeah, I recognized his talent when I first met him probably when I was 15 years old. Before I was in the Skullniks, I was in another band. He was in a band called Bleeding Power with Michael Poole. He’s always played with Michael Poole. NB : They’re like a duo. TM : Yeah, they’re like a duo. Yeah. Mike inspires me because his bands have put stuff out. They’re out there recording. Audrey Seymour hasn’t recorded anything and iLiaka has a few things, but nothing comprehensive. [Justin] Bailey is kind of coming back from extinction. credit: Gary Governale NB : Now, let’s turn to current. As far as currently, are there any current bands on your playlist inspiring you? TM : Oh boy. Man. Yeah, sure. One of my favorite bands is a band called High and they’re from New Orleans and they’re comprised of all kinds of dudes from way back in the day that I know from New Orleans. I remember the first show we ever played. It was at Library Joe’s. Those guys played in two different bands and we just kind of put on a show and then we recognized each other from other bands and so they’re like us. Guys that have chosen this lifestyle and persevered to do cool shit. NB : Well, that’s the best lifestyle to have, to be quite honest. TM : Absolutely. NB : So, I want to ask you one more thing. Everyone wants to know future goals. What do you want to achieve going forward or what would you like people to know about you and your music? TM : Well, a lot of my material is quite personal and draws from my personal experiences I go through and a lot of it is very relatable because we all go through a lot of the same stuff. I like to make light of it. Light of some of these heavy issues to make them not so bad. A lot of it deals with loneliness or other things. I feel it puts a positive spin on these things, though. Through the process of the lyrics and making sense of it, by the end, you have something you can be proud of that brings you joy, and I think, man…if I hadn’t been through that trying circumstance, then I wouldn’t have this final product. I like to take a feeling and make something great out of it. I want people to connect with the lyrics and concepts and be inspired by it. I want to get deep, but not over people’s heads. I want them to be able to relate. On one level, you can listen to my music, and it hits you one way, but then in another way, people can listen and go, “Whoa, this dude’s kind of insightful here”. credit: Gary Governale To hear T. Mason and the Bricklayer’s newest release, head on over to their social media pages, Bandcamp, or YouTube. “The Demolition Demo” is out NOW ! Bandcamp: the demolition demo | T. Mason & The Bricklayers | T. Mason and the Bricklayers (bandcamp.com) Facebook: T. Mason & The Bricklayers | Facebook Instagram: T. Mason & The Bricklayers (@t.mason_and_thebricklayers) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube: brick vs. window - YouTube *All photos by Gary Governale* www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Moon Tree is a down-to-earth musical odyssey intertwining jazz, blues, country, and rock to create art built of timeless stories. < Back Moon Tree: Reflecting the Sounds of the Cosmos Erica Machen Jan 17, 2024 Share Moon Tree is a down-to-earth musical odyssey intertwining jazz, blues, country, and rock to create art built of timeless stories. Have you ever sat cross-legged, captivated by your grandpa’s extraordinary stories? The mysticism and legacy within words passed through generations lasso your attention. A similar enchantment echoes from the sonic musings of Moon Tree. Hailing from the Muscle Shoals area in Alabama, the band, consisting of Jeremy Parvin, Greg Chapman, John (aka Chet) Hicks, Kevin Reed, and Grayson Wright, intertwines jazz, blues, country, and rock. They may be sharing some folklore, but these are no classic folk songs. Band members contribute distinct elements. Vocalist Jeremy Parvin draws from Southern Baptist roots, infusing vocals with 70’s artists, blues, and southern rock influences. Guitarist Greg Chapman underscores the collaborative songwriting process defining the band. Drummer Kevin Reed injects high energy and jazz nuances. Chet Hicks, the bass player, emphasizes the band's melting-pot vibe with his musical experiences from across the country. And Grayson Wright, on keys, ties everything together with his incredible talent and youthful spirit. Each of the guys brings their own flavor to their musical gumbo, creating a uniquely soulful blend. Just as each of their flavors is unique, so are their albums. Moon Tree’s journey through genres is evident, from the gritty jazz-and-blues blend of their debut to the country-blues rock of "Too Much Honey". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w3PMrmTiIY Moon Tree’s latest album, "Into the Unknown," released in October and immerses fans in a cosmic odyssey, merging 70’s hard rock sounds with blues and gives vibes reminiscent of The Black Crows. Moon Tree’s streaming catalog is a musical space odyssey. “Footsteps and Stones” tells of one North Alabama man’s tribute to his indigenous ancestor through a hand-built stone wall. She walked for five years from Oklahoma to come home to the “Singing River” that is the Tennessee. Not only is this a testament to the tale, but it is a testament to Moon Tree’s journey in crafting musical masterpieces. Like the story they are telling, their art is being built of timeless stones. Inspired by the ethereal and space, "Into the Unknown" takes listeners on an epic celestial journey. Mixed Alternative caught up with these down-to-earthers to learn more about what inspires their sound, how their name is tied to the Apollo 14 mission, and the recent release of their third album, “Into the Unknown”. Check out our conversation below, then be sure to follow them on social media and get lost in the ride. MaM : In the spirit of Moon Tree's unique sound, each of you, in your own words, please give us a snappy introduction that captures the heart and soul of your musical vibe. L to R: Grayson Wright, Chet Hicks, Jeremy Parvin, Greg Chapman, Kevin Reed Credit: Amanda Chapman JP : I sing and don't play an instrument, which is probably best for all of us. I'm the front man. I was raised a Southern Baptist minister’s son. Gospel has always had a big influence. In my vocals, I draw a lot from 70’s artists with blues and Southern rock-and-roll influences. GC : In Moon Tree, we all have different musical backgrounds. We come up with things on our own, then bring it together for everyone to work on it. We put it on vinyl and hope people will listen like they used to listen to music. KK : I’m Kevin, the drummer. I’ve always played in more hard rock bands. Coming into this group, they weren’t necessarily a hard rock band, but they had really cool songs. We blended a little high energy with some of the jazz-type stuff they had going on. We build new things with each album. The first album is kind of jazzy, the second is kind of country, the third album is kind of hard rock stuff, and the next one … who knows what it's going to sound like? I try to help facilitate that as best I can by making it louder. CH : I’m Chet, the bass player. I’d say the vibe of our band is what most of our shows have shown: a melting pot. MaM : I’m glad you mentioned a melting pot. I was going to say Moon Tree's sound is a gumbo pot of gospel, classic rock, Texas blues, and jazz. How do these musical flavors come together in your songwriting to create something uniquely Moon Tree? CH : There are a lot of different kinds of influences. Everybody brings something different and are from different backgrounds. I think that's what made Muscle Shoals so cool back in the 70s. It's really the same thing with us. We all try to come up with song ideas, and then we try to make it sound like Moon Tree. It always does. It's great! JP : There's a tradition here [Huntsville, AL] in sort of making your own music and making your own fun. We really like working on the songs and getting them to that point. We all seem to gravitate toward the same musical point, which is really nice. We start off with the idea that's pretty raw; at the end, it's really refined. I think everybody's songwriting skills come into play, because everybody's bringing something to it in a creative way. MaM : Chet, with extensive experience, you have been around the musical block, so to speak. Would you share how your diverse experiences help shape the band's process in creating original tunes? CH : I have just played in so many different kinds of bands that when we started doing this one, it was easy. It was easy because it was kind of clear from the beginning. It was like ‘Ok, we're not really going to have any musical rules.’ We're just going to try to write the best songs we can write and get the best recordings we can make. There’s a lot of things coming from different genres since I played a bunch of different kinds. I was ready to do it [integrate genres]. A lot of what we do is really unspoken and understood between us. MaM : The Moon Tree name is tied to the Apollo 14 mission … pretty cosmic stuff! How does this out-of-this-world connection influence your storytelling, especially when delving into themes like folklore, spirits, and alternative perspectives? Credit: Amanda Chapman GC : The Moon Tree name came from the moon tree over at Ivy Green. Steven Tyler came here, and he hugged the moon tree. Whenever we saw that, it was like ‘Moon Tree?’ You know, that would be a good name. JP : There was a forestry expert who went on the Apollo 14 mission with the astronauts. He orbited while they went to the moon, but he was tasked with taking some seeds up with him in the orbit around the moon. When they came back in the early 70s, they spread those out amongst all the forestry commission. They planted seeds in certain areas. There are lists online for them. A lot of our music is inspired by ethereal things and space itself. Our latest album is titled ‘Into The Unknown’ and is very much in that lane, especially the title track, which is written by our drummer (Kevin). It has a very sort of, I don't want to say spacey, but let's say heavenly feel to it. MaM : You’ve opened for heavy hitters like Jimmy Hall and Jefferson Starship. How have these experiences shaped your live performances, and can you spill the beans on a standout moment from those gigs? GC : I just want to say we really appreciate everything we've had an opportunity to do. We've been very fortunate to play some shows like Jefferson Starship. It's an amazing opportunity to play those kinds of show. It gives you experience for future shows so that you're ready for anything that might happen. That makes you want to play better. Whenever we opened for Nick Saban, that was quite fun. That was the first time I ever used one of those in ear monitors. It gave me experience. It’s those experiences that prepare you for when something big comes up. JP : The show he is referring to was a charity event we were able to play very early in our career as a band together. We were very fortunate to play before Coach Saban was going to speak for the event, and it was great. MaM : You guys just released your third studio album, “Into the Unknown”, in October. What fresh sounds or themes can fans expect, and what cool surprises should everyone be on the lookout for in Moon Tree's upcoming adventures? Click image to experience Moon Tree KC : Hopefully, in the coming year, we're going to be playing in different towns. We’ve done Huntsville, Birmingham, and things like that. We want to spread out a little and really play behind this new album. We're really proud of this album. It's still new. So, hopefully we're going to be coming to more towns, playing more shows, and writing new music. Tonight, we've been rehearsing and have already worked on four new songs. They're all kind of gelling together real good [sic], and it’s totally different from the last album. We're always kind of moving forward. There's never much of a down period in this band. We record an album, we put out an album, we play some shows, and then we do it all over again. That's kind of the way it goes around here. GC : I would just like to say that I really appreciate having great local places around here where we can play original music, like Lava Room , For the Record , and Champy’s Shoals . JP : We also want to throw a shoutout to our superhuman keyboard sorcerer, who doesn’t always practice with us, because he is perfect and doesn’t have to! His name is Grayson Wright, and he is young and hip to what the kiddos like! He provides brilliant, often improvisational, chops on any style of piano/keys/synth, you name it! Venture out a little further on your expedition and be sure to visit Moon Tree online at www.MoonTreeBand.com . Moon Tree | YouTube Moon Tree | Facebook Moon Tree | Instagram Moon Tree | Spotify Moon Tree | iTunes *Cover photo by Amanda Chapman Erica Machen is a beast when it comes to consuming, writing about, and reviewing music. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Hollow Heroes music is a melodic masterpiece < Back Hollow Heroes: Rising Against the Trends Towards a Cohesive Sound Nicole Brice Sep 14, 2023 Share Hollow Heroes music is a melodic masterpiece Beers for breakfast, you say? Well, not exactly, but the newest single by Hollow Heroes does mention breakfast beers in its title, and with this clever nod to the frothy goodness known to many, I decided I needed to know more about this band. A group of well-rounded musicians make up Hollow Heroes , who hail from New Jersey . Since their inception in January of 2020, Hollow Heroes has been making waves in the industry, and in August of 2022, the band released their debut album Burn Another Bridge . While the entire album is a solid alt-rock offering, I must touch upon the opening track ' Save Me .' With captivating lyrics, heavy choruses, and crunching guitars, the transitions and changes in the melody complement this roller coaster of a song that reels you right in from the beginning and does not let up the entire six minutes it plays. Released August 18, 2022 The remainder of the album is a mashup of loud and heavy alternative rock that takes you on a sonic journey into an abyss of sound. These guys are on to something, so take note. With their latest single, ' Refuse (Breakfast Beers) ', the band has changed things up a bit to reflect more of a pop-punk offering reminiscent of Rise Against . Drawing inspiration from both Rise Against and Breaking Benjamin , Hollow Heroes is a band that is unafraid to explore the complexities of making music on a profound level, so who are these guys? Released July 14, 2023 Hollow Heroes are comprised of Alex White (vocals), Tom Riccoboni (drums), James Romano (bass), and CJ Palmisano (guitar). With all members being from various parts of New Jersey and drawing inspiration from their years of playing music in one capacity or another, be it the school band or independently, the band grew from an initial phone call between Alex and CJ , who played music together many years prior; after over an hour on the phone, the two decided to meet up to see what they could pull together. When COVID-19 hit, though, the guys were derailed a tad, but later in 2020, when they met up at The Burn Room in Jefferson, New Jersey, they ended up recording their first single, ' Alone .' By 2021, enough material was written to record the debut album, and the rest is history. I recently sat down to chat with the guys. No beer was present, but we did take a deeper dive into the meaning behind the title of their newest single and much more. Take a moment to read about Hollow Heroes and then go check out their music. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Obviously, you have the Rise Against element in your newest single, “Refuse (Breakfast Beers),” but collectively who would you cite as your musical influences? CJ : I’m really big into Metallica , Blink 182 , A Day to Remember James : I’m super into Parkway Drive , Silverstein , Circa Survive , Dance Gavin Dance … Tom : If you didn’t say Dance Gavin Dance , I was going to have a heart attack. (laughter) I think we all have a good overall consensus of bands that we all like. They kind of overlap. I think once me and James came on, we added more of a progressive vibe. I’m super into Dream Theater , Rush , and Periphery … stuff like that. So, that’s something the original two members weren’t as keen on. Alex : I grew up on Breaking Benjamin and it was the hardest thing I listened to in late high school as well as Rise Against . Our newest single is very influenced by them. MaM : So, Alex, when it comes to writing lyrics, do you prefer more of a poetic approach, or do you just come up with random ideas and then let them flow? Alex : It’s definitely ideas and let it flow. (laughter) No rhyme or reason. (laughter) Tom : Alex is the most go-with-the-flow person you will ever meet. Alex : When I write my stuff, vocals are kind of the last thing. Just kind of see what fits. I don’t like things that are overly corny or somatic, I must say. I don’t want it to sound stupid or too dramatic. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, leading into the new single you just released in July, can I get a little background info on the title? It’s a little confusing. (laughter) How did “breakfast beers” fit into the equation? (laughter) Everyone : It’s a bit of an inside joke with us and was the working title when we were trying to figure out the actual title. Tom hates it. Tom : I hate it, by the way. (laughter) Everyone : Yeah, everyone grew to like ' Breakfast Beers ' except for Tom. He was a sourpuss. CJ : We called it “breakfast beers” because we didn’t have the name yet. When we actually released the song, there was a vote to see if we would put “breakfast beers” in parentheses or not. The refuse part of it was all my dad. It was very random. We kept the inside joke, though, for the original Hollow Heroes fans who know it. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : With all the options for streaming these days, which platform do you guys prefer? Do you feel there are too many avenues to get the products out and should it be streamlined more for a cohesive offering? Tom : I think we’re past the point of no return with that to have an opinion and it’s almost as if you have to play the game. MaM : I can agree with that. Going back to your album, ' Burn Another Bridge ,' which is solid and I love it, you said you recorded it over the course of a year, but how long did it take you to actually write it? CJ : The writing didn’t take too long. There were songs that I had finished and there were songs that Alex had finished and maybe we just tweaked a few things here and there. The recording process was longer than the writing process. Alex and I worked out our schedule when we could, and we got the drums done in an entire weekend. The guitar tracks took the longest honestly. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I wanted to touch upon the opening track, ' Save Me ,' and I wanted to get a little more info behind the lyrics because of how much they resonated with me. What inspired the writing of the song? Alex : Honestly, I wrote that song when I was 17 or 18 years old and I think there was a time when I was a little different than now and I had some dark things going on, but it was drawn from life experiences and things are better now. But it was some angsty teen issues. MaM : If you guys could share the stage with any band in the future, who would it be? CJ : It’s either Foo Fighters or Metallica for me. We fit in well with that crowd and those are my favorites. James : Number one would be Bad Religion and number two would be Silverstein . Alex : Rise Against and Blink 182 for sure. Tom : For me, it’s Dream Theater , even though we sound nowhere close to them. [They’re] the whole reason why I fell in love with music. My dad was a fan of their music and he’s always played their music in the car. They are easily my biggest influence and why I play drums. I also agree with Alex about Breaking Benjamin , too. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Last question – where do you see yourselves for the rest of 2023 and beyond? CJ : We’ve had a pretty busy year so far, and we did a show in January at a place called Jimmy’s in Kearney, NJ and that was the first show we had packed, and all of our friends and family were there. It was a great night and I think Tom can go on record that he got emotional that night. Tom : I did; it was kind of crazy. CJ : He did, it was a beautiful night. This summer has been so busy, too. In June we did a show in Hazlet, NJ and opened for Marc Rizzo of Ill Niño and Soulfly then less than a week later, we had the House of Independents show, where we met Jeff Crespi , and then in July, we had The Stone Pony show. Tom : Our biggest goal was to hit Asbury this summer and the whole Jersey Shore scene of rock, so we did it. CJ : We played Wonderbar in March, too, and from March until the end of this summer, we were just going. Tom : Yeah, then during that we released ' Refuse (Breakfast Beers) ,' so we were busy recording, too. … I think the rest of 2023 will be focused on writing more music, but not necessarily a new album or EP. With the months getting colder and not as many people getting out there, that’s what we’d like to do. Credit: Jeff Crespi As the band grows and experiments further, we feel they will continue to cultivate a loyal fanbase that will appreciate their authenticity and style of music. Their current offerings are only the tip of the iceberg, so stay tuned for more from Hollow Heroes and check out one of the links below! Facebook : Hollow Heroes Facebook Instagram : Hollow Heroes (@hollowheroesband) • Instagram photos and videos ‎ Apple Music : Hollow Heroes on Apple Music Spotify : Hollow Heroes | Spotify YouTube : youtube.com/@hollowheroes7816 Amazon Music : Hollow Heroes on Amazon Music Unlimited *Cover photo via band's Facebook *All other photos by Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nicole Brice isn't a huge fan of Breaking Benjamin, but she loves Rise Against. She highly recommends you listen to this band and if you would like her to check something out, then e-mail us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

How Steve Mignano found his way to music, New Orleans, and soundscape success with musical projects Drab and Garguts. < Back Steve Mignano: A Man with a Lust for Movement and Change David Trahan Jan 18, 2024 Share How Steve Mignano found his way to music, New Orleans, and soundscape success with musical projects Drab and Garguts. Drab has rich soundscapes. There seems to be a thirst lately for bands with driving basslines whose guitars saturate the aural soundscape with lavish, soulful melodies. That may sound elementary, but the truth is that too many bands these days are trying to find the next direction with compositions that have shed elements of the tried and true. For me, Drab’s sound hearkens back to an era when grunge rock was mighty. And music like I’m hearing from these guys was the tasteful counter to that movement that somehow found a way to compliment it simultaneously. It was anything but pop, super original, and slightly unpolished in its own right. A band like Drab is tipping its hat to this notion that there exists a space between extremes that does not lend itself to popularized conformity. In other words, you don’t have to commit yourself to either death metal or typified pop extremes to express a deviation from the norm. There’s a vein of rock that maintains an edge slightly left of center that is still respected by those who would normally find their comfort zone right in the middle. For his whole life, Steve Mignano has been able to move freely throughout these spectrums due to his lust for movement and change, and his ability to achieve accuracy amongst chaos affords listeners a guide through these waters. You can’t understand the plot if the acting sucks, and you can’t get a feel for a sound if it’s not in tune or on time. Now Garguts, Steve’s second project, pushes the division between what works and what doesn’t. They take the above notion of “unpolished” and kick it in the teeth. But again, Mr. Mignano embraces change here while feeling his way through at the top of his lungs. Because for this project, Steve isn’t holding a guitar. He’s strictly singing. Dylan Hemard (Green Gasoline) checks the axe for him, allowing him the freedom to roam. This band delivers the reassurance that can be sometimes felt in extremity. Because oddly enough, you can hear a bit of Zeppelin in the beginning of their song “Miller High Death”, but then the kicking starts, giving listeners a bit of “Oh yeah, I remember that!” followed by “Oh sh*t!”. We will get into the line-up of this band later. But trust me, we’re all in for a wild ride with this one. To read the full article on Steve Mignano, Drab, and Garguts, visit www.NewOrleansMusicians.com . Podcast : https://Neworleansmusicians.Podbean.com YouTube : https://youtube.com/@neworleansmusicians Blog : https://Neworleansmusicians.com/blog www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

No love songs this month! < Back Way Back When: The Love Month Playlist Picks Nicole Brice Feb 4, 2025 Share No love songs this month! It’s the love month … the month I despise because of all the mushy gushiness … in light of that, these are NOT love songs. Enjoy! 1. Incubus - Redefine Incubus has certainly come a long way since this banger was released. I remember seeing these guys open for 311 and No Doubt at the Baton Rouge River Center in the 90s. What an insane show! This song is fantastic. Turn it up loud! 1997 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KOS-dQ9wOw 2. Less Than Jake - Johnny Quest (Thinks We’re Sellouts) I may or may not be humming this as I write this. Johnny Quest thinks we’re what? One of the best LTJ songs ever. 1996 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRJlTr50zAk 3. Marilyn Manson - Dried Up, Tied and Dead to the World In my opinion, Antichrist Superstar is one of the best Marilyn Manson albums, and this song was my jam back in the day. 1996 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5MHmr9nHk4 4. Hole - She Walks On Me She walks … over me … (I’m humming this song, too). Live Through This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Amazing song. Amazing album. 1994 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap5RglaNui0 5. Stabbing Westward - Dead and Gone With the re-emergence of one of my fave bands of all time, Stabbing Westward , comes this banger. “How can I go on? When my last hope is gone?” 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2c2xW78t6U Hey, if you don't like these, cool. If you've never heard them, check them out! Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage < Back Comedian Junior Cook: Uncensored, Unapologetic, and Gay, Gay, Gay Keeley Brooks Jun 8, 2023 Share A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage If there's anything I love more than watching movies and series, it's having a good laugh at some quality stand-up comedy. And right now, more than ever, this entire world is in need of good, hearty laughs from quality comedians who are proud to be authentic. There's nothing better than coming home after a long day and stumbling across some good standup by accident, and that's how I found unapologetic Alabama-based comedian Junior Cook. A loud and proud gay comedian tearin' it up across the South, Cook is full of life and personality with tons of material, but perhaps the best thing about him is the fact he has no shame when it comes to being himself, and that, my friends, is beyond refreshing in a world of likeness and conformity. He's kind and humble, and he isn't afraid to tackle sensitive subjects with charm and ease, which he embodies effortlessly. He's mindful of presenting jokes wrapped in such sweet southern swagger, you can't help but feel like you're sitting on your porch hanging out with Junior over a tall glass of sweet tea. I reached out to Junior to have a chat, and I'm glad I did. He is one funny dude doing exactly what he's meant to be doing, and if he keeps plugging away like he is, he's got one bright future ahead of him. In fact, when I did reach out to him, he had just been selected as the chosen performer for Season 13 of Kenan Presents: The Live Performance Showcase at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre in Huntsville, Alabama. The show was hosted by Alton Walker, the creator of The NextIN Line Network, and featured special guest Lamar Pullom, a radio personality known as "The Ant-Man of Comedy" on 105.1 The Block. courtesy of Junior Cook social media I couldn't wait to dig in and learn more about Cook and his life, so check out our conversation below, then be sure to follow him on social media so you can catch him performing live and laugh until your face hurts. MaM : Junior, thank you so much for hanging out with us. It's a pleasure to feature you in our Comedic Relief section. Tell us where you're from and where you're currently located. JC : Thank you for having me! I grew up in a very small town in Alabama called Haleyville, but I currently live in Birmingham, Alabama. MaM : What were you like as a child? Were you the one always entertaining everybody else with laughs? JC : As a child I was cautious, shy, and curious. I knew who I was at a very young age, but I also knew the world was not ready for me. (laughs) MaM : Has comedy always been a part of your life? JC : Comedy has always been a part of my life, yes-especially through TV sitcoms and variety shows. I was always looking for the weird and the funny. MaM : When were you first introduced to comedy? JC : My first introduction to stand-up comedy was watching Whoopi Goldberg's HBO comedy special as a child. I was with my family at the beach. I was burnt from too much sun, so I stayed inside and was just taken aback by her characters and skits. She was amazing ... still is! That is probably the reason why I am so excited to see female comedians. MaM : Whoopi is hysterical. I remember her specials as a child, too. I thought she was the funniest woman I'd ever seen at the time. So daring and bold. When did you know you wanted to be a comedian? JC : I have always enjoyed making people laugh. My mother tried to get me to pursue stand-up comedy right out of high school but, yet again, I knew the world was not ready for me. Also, I saw making money and exploring who I was and meeting others just like me as being more important at the time. One day at work, I had a client tell me that I should try out for one of the comedy clubs' open mic nights. I knew there was more to it than just getting out there and running your mouth, so I looked into the open mic and saw that they offered many writing classes. After I finished the classes and did my first stand-up gig, I was hooked. MaM : What does comedy mean to you/do for you and your life? JC : Comedy means everything to me. Working with words and improv has helped me expand as a person, and comedy also gives me the pleasure of making people happy and lifting their spirits, [even if it is for] just one evening. MaM : Tell us about the first time you were on stage doing standup. What was that like for you? courtesy of Junior Cook JC : The first time I was ever on a stage in front of people probably was the scariest time I've ever felt. It felt like [I was about to] bungee jump off a 10-story building with no safety net. Yet, even with what little laughs I got, I was happy and [it] helped me discover that [standup] was for me. MaM : Ha, I've bungeed before and it's terrifying ... until you actually jump! So, I understand your fear and how it compelled you to move forward. That's really cool. Who are some of your comedic influences? JC : My comedy influences have always been women in comedy. Even today, it's the women who make me laugh [the most]. Watching The Golden Girls with my grandmother on the weekends was the highlight of my week growing up. A lot of the jokes went straight over my head becuase I was so young, but watching my grandmother laugh so hard made me laugh even harder. Sitcoms, The Carol Burnett Show, and female stand-up comedians like Joan Rivers have made a huge impact on my life. MaM : Who was the first comedian you ever saw live? JC : I think the first comedian I ever saw live was Lisa Lampanelli. She was crude, rude, and everything good! She told it like it was but in a really funny way. She will always be in my top ten list of comedians I love. MaM : Who's your current favorite comedian? JC : My current favorite comedian has to be Wanda Sykes, hands down. She works so hard, but she makes it look effortless. I admire that about her. MaM : Dude, huge congratulations on the Live Performance Showcase ! That's so awesome! You must have been elated from the time you got the news clean through after you finished your set. Tell us how all of that came about, then what the experience was like for you. JC : I was chosen to be part of Demi TV's Demi Gods of Comedy. I was so excited that I was going to be filmed and placed on their network. I was chosen by a large group of people that work at Demi TV. The experience has been very positive. Getting noticed in this industry can be hard, and it's so rewarding to know that someone sees you and sees the potential you have. MaM : Who were some of the other performers at the showcase? JC : Some of the other comedians that were featured on this special were Scott Eason and my good friend Kimberly Wilson. I consider her my comedy wife. Ha ha. MaM : Tell us about your comedy style in your own words. JC : My comedy style is a mixture of dark comedy, everyday situations, and things that we all have to deal with. And most importantly, my comedy style is about me: uncensored, unapologetic, and gay, gay, gay, which is something I could not have done when I was younger. [Now, I'm able to] be my authentic self on stage. Living in the South, I do get some uncomfortable mixed feelings from people, but that is just who I am - a southern man who happens to be gay. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_dd8f3cf98eb046d2b3eb1a54b5888122/360p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : Well, we happen to love your gayness and we're proud to flaunt you! So, what can people expect from a Junior Cook show? JC : People can always expect me to be me unapologetically, physically, and sometimes unexpectedly. MaM : Are you currently touring? Where do you perform? JC : I'm a performer all around the Southeast and at any comedy festival around the country. I'm hoping to get beyond that soon. MaM : What does the future hold for you? JC : I don't think we ever really know what the future holds for us, but I see myself expanding more with comedy wherever it takes me. MaM : If you could share the stage with any comedian, who would it be and why? JC : If I could share the stage with any comedian, it would have to be Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, or any female comedian today. They just make me laugh so hard. I don't think that women really get thir praise for being the best at comedy. MaM : Junior, thanks so much for taking some time and allowing us to get to know you. It's been a pleasure. But before I let you go, since we are an entertainment magazine, inquiring minds want to know what are you currently watching? JC : I am currently watching old sitcoms, believe it or not (laughs). Even though I've seen so many of them so many times, I still find little hidden gems tucked away that I never noticed, and that gives me such joy. And there you have it, folks. Be sure and follow Junior Cook on Facebook and Instagram @JrCookComedy to stay up to date on his latest shows and appearances. This is one hilariously authentic, proud gay man spreading the love one laugh at a time. To learn more about Junior Cook: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jrcookcomedy Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jrcookcomedy/ www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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How a local Louisiana comedian found his craft in laughter to help overcome anxiety. < Back Don’t Freak Out! It’s Just Jeff Vance, Everybody! Kimberly Bryant Jan 28, 2025 Share How a local Louisiana comedian found his craft in laughter to help overcome anxiety. I’ve known Jeff Vance for a long time. We go back to… dang, okay, definitely before 2010; I can tell you that much when we both worked together at a call center slinging “knock-your-socks-off” service to the hundreds of callers we fielded daily. But the one thing that stood out the most to me about him, like a shiny new nail peeking out of some plywood (fun analogy, right? —I tried), was that he was a DJ in his free time. The everyday nine-to-five grind of the monotonous routine is unentertaining to me… but that was! Very! You see, but that still wasn’t quite it. Jeff was hilarious. I remember purposely intersecting him in the hallways to see what he would say to make me laugh so loud that I would irritate my co-workers. For me to do that, you have to have a gift. For me to seek talent, it’s because I see talent. So, I’ve always felt like Jeff would be on a stage somewhere, if not on television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIxR9Um6lws Fast forward to many years later, and I’m still tracking Jeff’s moves on social media to see that he’s doing it. He found his way into the entertainment industry through acting—via theater, then dinner theater eventually became comedy. That happened when Vance conversed with a fellow actor one evening and figured another stage wouldn’t hurt at all. But one thing Jeff could tell you is that, in the beginning, it wasn’t exactly a King Cakewalk; it was tough. Sometimes, the comedian was met with comments such as “Please quit comedy and go back to the grocery store,” he tells me. At the same time, we munch on cheese and laugh while filming The Pop Culture Green Room podcast episode at Rind Specialty Cheese and More in Hammond, Louisiana (if you’re in town, GO!). But that didn’t last long. Soon, the jitters would simmer down, and he became more comfortable. But as soon as it got his groove, life happened. He quit comedy in 2009, raised his kids, and returned to comedy when COVID hit… and Lunchbox Comedy was born. Credit: Facebook In 2022, Jeff began to rally the troops, consisting of his comedy friends. But the big challenge was luring them to a place called Gonzales, Louisiana . “Uh, where?” Yep, that’s what he was met with. Luckily, they trusted Jeff’s judgment, and the rest is history. Lunchbox Comedy has grown, currently touring Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana . Jeff still gets overwhelmed with how far he’s come. I was utterly shocked when I discovered something about him that I wasn’t unaware of. Didn’t even have a clue. It could’ve fooled me, yet it also made sense. He suffers from anxiety. Major anxiety. Credit: Kimberly Bryant I had gone with my friend Elizabeth and her mom to catch a show at Deadbeat Brewing in Hammond (also a fun spot) with Jeff opening for TanyaLee Davis . He began his routine so bravely while being blinded by the light, and one of the first things he said was that he has anxiety. It stopped me in my tracks. Then I thought about it. I’ve read before that comedy can be a coping still for anxiety. Maybe it’s because I figured a small laugh for yourself or at a friend, but I didn’t think about putting yourself on display. That’s… being vulnerable. That takes guts. I would’ve never known. Jeff doesn’t stop. He goes after what he wants, and he found his way into promoting Lunchbox Comedy on news circuits, on tour, on stage, and in front of people. In front of people. People staring. In silence. My heart was pounding, and my palms were getting clammy. That kind of anxiety… and comedy helps him through it. Credit: Facebook Jeff Vance knows that not every day will go the same, but he also pushes through the difficult moments in his career. He has his bag of tricks, bits, and improv handy. It helps that he has accredited comedians on his touring circuit, so knowing that the support is close by helps ease the anxiety. One of the main reasons I wanted to grab Jeff for this interview is his hard work ethic, his never quitting, and his showing that you can still go after your dreams even with anxiety. Not only is Jeff a comedian, he’s also a producer as well. He wears all kinds of hats, I tell ya! I’m sure I’m missing something else he does. And I have to say, I’m very proud of my friend. Be sure to check out anything that Jeff Vance does. You can thank me later. To learn more about Jeff Vance and Lunchbox Comedy: Lunchbox Comedy | Facebook Facebook Jeff Vance Comedy LA - Live Stand-Up Comedy in Louisiana *cover photo - Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Rock drummer Shane Webb continues his vibrant course of success, maintaining an emblazoned passion for his art. < Back Shane Webb: A Drumming Odyssey Erica Machen Nov 30, 2023 Share Rock drummer Shane Webb continues his vibrant course of success, maintaining an emblazoned passion for his art. What view could be better than from the front row of a rock concert? The perspective Shane Webb , aka T-Bone, gives leads me to wonder if the best experience could be from the seat of a drum kit. I was able to have a chat with Shane, who’s drumming career brought him that perspective with bands such as Puddle of Mudd , Shinedown , Tried by Twelve , and multitudes of others. Twenty-plus years after embarking on his drumming career, Shane is fueled by his experiences and maintains an emblazoned passion for his art. Amidst captivating lights, vibrant sounds, and contagious energy emanating from lead vocalists, a drummer’s significance is often overlooked. Without these guys, rock shows would be haunted by a palpable void and undefined listlessness. The rhythm we all vibe to would be absent, as would those rich layers of texture and depth a drummer infuses into each performance with his (or her) distinctive style, creative fills, and unique enhancements. This is why Shane says his journey—his mission—is still incomplete. He expressed repeatedly in one way or another his desire to create a true legacy in his artistry via his musical career. Not only is it Shane’s mission to create such a legacy, but, throughout our conversation, I sensed his desire to pay homage to those who influenced and lifted his career, as well as to those friends whose journeys ended too soon. In an industry where rivalry and bitterness are frequently showcased both in the media and behind the scenes, Shane is seemingly in a place where he has realized grudges and animosity bare rotten fruit. Instead, Shane chooses to move forward by finding peace with those who didn’t believe in him and even with old friends, such as Fred Durst , who have fallen out of his life. At the end of the day, his motivation remains the same: Create music, create art. Webb is one noteworthy drummer who's doing just that. Mixed Alternative caught up with him to get some intimate details about his career and catch the story behind his drumming odyssey . MaM : Shane, with a drumming journey beginning at 12 years old, you've come a long way in your art. Can you share a pivotal moment from those early years that ignited your passion for drumming? SW : I asked for a drum set when I was four or five. My father took me to some restaurant, and I remember watching this guy play the drums and I was just fascinated by it. Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, I used to go to the Coliseum to watch bands play. My first rock show was Ted Nugent when he opened for KISS, before they had the make-up. I remember looking at the stage, listening to the sounds and crowd, and immediately falling in love. I knew I wanted to do that … I had the bug. I was a break dancer and R&B guy way before I was into rock and roll. Big time. … By the time I started to get into rock and roll, I wanted to be Eddie Van Hall. When I got to seventh grade, I had to choose an elective … I said I'd play in the band … on drums. And, as they say, the rest is history. Image provided by Shane Webb MaM : I’ve heard hints about some of your unique experiences, like sleeping on Dimebag Darrell's couch. Could you share that story, and do you have any other particularly unusual or memorable moments from your career? SW : I have countless! As for Dimebag Darrell [of Pantera and Damageplan], I was on tour with this band called Operator after being in Puddle of Mudd. Paul Phillips, who also used to be in Puddle of Mudd, was in Operator. I believe Paul knew Vinnie Paul. Someone came on the tour bus to say Vinnie wanted to come pick us up that night. Of course, you hear that, and you're like, ‘Absolutely!’ He picked us up in his limo … Suddenly, we were at Dime’s house. … I ended up passing out mad drunk and woke up the next morning on Dimebag’s couch. … I just walked around and touched stuff. I mean, when you watch the Dimevision videos, you see the stop sign he crashed his car into. I touched that thing on his wall. It was wild. It was crazy. Ms. Rita, his now-widow, took us to breakfast and told us all kinds of inside stories, like when Dime and Metallica used to hang out and where songs came from. She showed us his guitars. This man had to have at least a thousand guitars in his house. It was the craziest. Very intoxicating. Back in that time, we didn’t have cell phone cameras. One of my regrets is not having any pictures. MaM : What's the mission behind your new venture in rock and roll, and what inspired you to embark on this new chapter? SW : Not having done it the full way [inspired me]. Lots of people say I have really done it, but, for me, the mission hasn't really fully been accomplished yet. I’m 51 and still learning how to navigate things. Thankfully, I have Jason, who became my manager in the past six months or so. He is actually my best friend from high school who was around when I ran away to do all of this at 15. MaM : Can you expand on your leaving home at 15? SW : I always had this blind faith I’d already made it. I just had to go through the motions. I always knew I was doing it, with or without people's help. I lived with my mom and stepdad. It was rough at the time. We are all good now, and they have helped me tremendously. Long story short, one night I crawled out the window at 1 a.m. I said, ‘All right, bye. I'm out.’ Music is my medium because I am an artist. I am an artist first, songwriter second, and then a musician. MaM : You mention being a songwriter, so you’ve elicited my favorite question: What comes first, the chicken or the egg? SW : Probably the music. I hear music in my head. I still play guitar (bass) and a little bit of keyboard. I have my studio set up here at home. … Lyrics and melody usually come second. Occasionally, I have vocal ideas first. Those take a little longer. It’s writing backwards for me. MaM : You've played with various bands, including Puddle of Mudd and Shinedown. How did you become friends with Fred Durst, and what was it like collaborating with him? SW : We would not be having this conversation if it wasn't for Fred Durst. I did the hard work, but he was the person who stuck his neck out for me. He believed in me and saw talent and drive in me. I met Fred around 1993. Fred has done tattoos on me, I toured with him, we wrote together, and we have been in bands together. Fred always saw talent. L to R: Shane Webb, Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), and Paul Phillips (Puddle of Mudd) He called me in 1997 and said, ‘The record company wants somebody to video the day in the life of the band, and you're the first person I thought of.’ I said yes, but then he said, “Here's the only thing… you’ve got to leave at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.”I went to my job, and … They didn’t understand I was letting them know I was going on tour. I don't think I did anything significant … but we always stayed in touch. Puddle of Mudd was signed to his record label, and he called me up to audition. I learned the songs, flew out to L.A., and I had the gig. … That was all because of Fred talking me up. We’ve had some rough patches, but we’ve never gone toe to toe. Unfortunately, we don’t talk now, but I owe so much to that guy. It's 20-something years later. I don't hold grudges. MaM : Looking back, what kind of advice would you give to a young teenager when it comes to music? SW : Just stay true, man. Stick to your guns. Work really hard play, play as much as you can, and be there for other people. That's something important to me. MaM : What should our readers look out for next from you? SW : I have a back catalog, and I'm a writer. I like to write, and I want people to hear my new stuff. There is just so much stuff people haven't heard that only I have ... old Shinedown demos, old Puddle of Mudd demos. I was in a band with my best friend [Brad Stewart’s brother] Mark Stewart and Nolan Neal called Tried By Twelve. L to R: Mark Stewart, Nolan Neal, Jeff Winston, Shane Webb Nolan was on America's Got Talent and The Voice. He had more record deals than anybody I've ever known and was the only artist to get signed with Virgin Records … [a] sight unseen. Unfortunately, Mark died in 2015 and we lost Nolan last year. Shane Webb and Nolan Neal on "The Voice" That was a huge deal, and I still have those songs. … I don't want to just put this stuff out there. I want to protect … integrity and these boys. They were my buddies. As I said, it's a very touchy thing. I have to release these songs in a very sensitive way. We don't know if we're going to do it as an album, an EP, or just one song at a time. I'm also working on a way for me to release some of these old Puddle of Mudd demos. They need work studio-wise. I also have my solo material. I've been writing songs for a long time, and I have several of my own solo songs where I play most of the instruments. I had a talk with Bob Marlette, the producer of Seether and many more, and he is willing to work with me on a song I'm writing. Very excited about that. When Shane isn’t working on building connections with his local community in Jacksonville, he can be found in his studio playing his drums, bass, and keyboard. As we wait to hear what he will release from within his vault, stay updated by visiting his website at www.ShaneWebbDrummer.com . Erica Machen is a beast when it comes to consuming, writing about, and reviewing music. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

With heavy riffs and unfiltered emotion, Inner Anguish is carving out a distinct voice in the regional metal underground. < Back Inner Anguish Brings Raw Power and Southern Grit to Louisiana’s Metal Scene Nicole Brice May 7, 2025 Share With heavy riffs and unfiltered emotion, Inner Anguish is carving out a distinct voice in the regional metal underground. Emerging from the heart of Louisiana’s underground metal scene, Inner Anguish is a band that channels raw emotion and relentless intensity into every note. By blending crushing riffs with visceral lyrics, the group serves as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Southern metal— dark, unfiltered, and unapologetically honest. Credit: Justin Hammer Photography Since its formation, the band has undergone several changes and now boasts a solid lineup of musicians who were brought together for a specific purpose. Each member contributes their unique flair, resulting in a well-rounded listening experience highlighted by their impressive stage presence and larger-than-life personalities. Inner Anguish consists of Taylor Redwing on vocals, Smitty Lange on bass, Keith Alleman on guitar, Ben Finley on guitar, and Taylor Guidry on drums. The poetic lyrics are crafted by lead singer Taylor Redwing , who writes from the heart. Every word reflects his genuine feelings and carries deep meaning. Inner Anguish draws from a diverse array of influences, creating a sound that is both distinctive and recognizable , appealing to metal enthusiasts. With the help of their secret weapon, Ben Finley of Shed Sound Hole , each release is polished to perfection. As an organic collaboration among friends and music lovers, Inner Anguish ’s sound and dynamic defy categorization. Their unique approach enables them to adapt to whatever comes their way, ensuring a refreshing and authentic musical experience. Inner Anguish is not just making noise; they are making a statement. Read on to learn more. Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : Give us a little background history about how you came together as a band. Keith : I had a lot of the songs written and recorded already at my home studio. ‘ Sin and Bleed ’ and ‘ This Guilt ’ were two of them. We started playing with Ben Finley , and then we were looking for a singer. We had worked with Taylor previously, so we decided to bring him in. Ben was originally on bass , but then we decided to become a 5-piece, so we brought in Smitty , and that’s how it all came together. Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : Where did the name for the band come from? Smitty : We had about 10-12 names to consider, so we voted on them. Inner Anguish received the most votes. MaM : I think it’s a great name because it just rolls off the tongue. Taylor : Yeah, we were careful when we picked it because a lot of the names we liked were already taken, so that we couldn’t use them. Smitty : What’s cool, too, is that with Inner Anguish , if you listen to all of Taylor’s lyrics, it matches very well. Credit: Justin Hammer Photography MaM : How did you all decide on the type of music to play, and who influenced you musically growing up? Smitty : Keith wanted more of that Southern sludge sound, and once Taylor got in the band, his vocals helped to pick up the pace of the songs. The songs were originally much slower. It’s remarkable how each of us brought our own unique contribution to it, and it all just works, becoming our distinct sound. Now, whatever that sound is, I don’t know. It crosses so many boundaries. Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : I was just about to say that – I can’t define your sound. Smitty : Yeah, it’s got a little of everything. People have said how they like the rapping portion of ‘ This Guilt ’, which just happened. Taylor’s big on Mudvayne , so that’s where that comes in. Growing up, I was big into Type O Negative . MaM : I saw Type O Negative at the House of Blues in NOLA back in the early 2000s. It was insane. I still have the ticket stub. Smitty : I saw them on their last tour, and I had the opportunity to meet Peter Steele in 2010 . I also love all the Southern stuff, too, like Acid Bath . You can’t be in a band down here and not say Acid Bath . MaM : Acid Bath was huge for me in high school. Keith : I’m a big Misfits fan. I enjoy a wide range of melodic black metal and death metal . I like stoner rock , too, but pretty much anything. I hate classic rock . MaM : What? You hate classic rock? (laughter) Keith : Well, I like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin , but that’s it. Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : Ok, we’ll let you slide with that. Taylor : My most significant influence on what I do with Inner Anguish is Chad Gray of Mudvayne . Garrett Russell of Silent Planet , too. I believe that anyone who appreciates the type of vocals I do also loves Lamb of God . MaM : What is it that drives you guys to make music? What is your primary motivation? Smitty : Fun – just having fun. It’s a release, and I understand why some of those bands go to cocaine. (laughter) MaM : I can agree. Keith : I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing music. My mother played guitar and piano and raised me to play. It’s just something I’ve always done. Taylor : Music has always been there for me. It’s my biggest love and growing up watching my favorite performers on stage live just really made me feel included. Metal has always been there for me and has always made me feel empowered. I want to do what I love, and I want to inspire others with my music. It’s a selfish thing for me, at the end of the day, because it’s a release. Keith : He’s thrown up after a performance before. MaM : Seriously? Keith : Oh yeah. Taylor : I feel like all the songs we play are emotional, and it’s therapeutic for me. MaM : Well, music is therapy because of frequency. Smitty : Yeah, I bring that brown note. (laughter) Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : I recently saw that you have your own beer, which will be available soon. Tell us a little more about that. Taylor : We’re playing May 17th in Gulfport, Mississippi, at the Metal and Beer Fest , and each band on the bill gets its own signature beer. Available May 17, 2025, at Metal and Beer Fest at Gulfport Dragway MaM : So, what is your signature beer? What is the taste? Taylor : It’s a honey brown ale, basically, and will only be available at the festival, I believe, so come out and try it! Click the picture for more information MaM : You guys are currently in the studio recording new material. How’s that going so far? Taylor : It’s going great. We’re about to wrap up the drum tracks, and then we'll lay down some vocals. However, we’re aiming for a late-September release. MaM : How do you guys approach writing new material? Is there a process? Keith : Whoever brings in a riff, we listen to it and then go from there. Smitty : It’s not like we go into the studio intending to do a stoner or black metal song. Whatever comes out works. We don’t just sit in one pocket. Credit: Elise Hanks MaM : What are you finding as a common theme with this new batch of songs? Do you have one? Taylor : A lot of this new album revolves around suicide , so I’m not sure how palatable that will be to some, but it seems to be a recurring theme throughout the record. It’s more around the ideation and the activist. MaM : Tell us a little bit more about the lyrics for ‘This Guilt’. How did those come about? Taylor : I was afraid this question would come. (laughter) Taylor : It’s a difficult question to answer. Usually, when I write lyrics, I’m not thinking about anything. I’ll listen to a track and then write out how it makes me feel. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense, but I’m just vibing with the music and letting it guide me. After a song is finished, I can sit there with the lyrics and read them, and then it all makes sense. To me, though, ‘ This Guilt ’ is about abuse - whether that be self-inflicted or from another. That’s what I get from that song and the lyrics I wrote. MaM : What would you guys like to accomplish this year? What would be the ultimate achievement to make this year perfect? Taylor : I would love to play a show with Eyehategod . I don’t even think we’d have trouble finding a third band because everybody wants to play a show with them. I hope we can make that happen in the future. As Inner Anguish continues to churn out new material and play shows, they stand poised to bring about a new era in metal – one that defies categorization. Be sure to check out their social media to catch them live soon. For more information about Inner Anguish: Facebook: Facebook Instagram: INNER ANGUISH (@inneranguish) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify: Inner Anguish | Spotify Apple Music: ‎Inner Anguish - Apple Music *Band photos by Justin Hammer Photography: www.justinhammerphotography.com Shop Art Art gallery is a collection of art that is currently available for purchase at Justin Hammer Photography. *Live Photos by Photography by Elise Marie Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Daemon Grimm is drawing their influence from more than just metal. < Back Don’t Lose Your Head: The Unstoppable Return of Daemon Grimm Jennifer Touché Feb 19, 2025 Share Daemon Grimm is drawing their influence from more than just metal. Last year, I had the opportunity to work with Eddie Sartor , bassist of Daemon Grimm . Through that connection, I was introduced to the rest of the band. Learning about their adversity over the years made it clear that their bond is built on more than just music—it’s a brotherhood forged in resilience. This is their story. Credit: Facebook Emerging from the underground scene of NOLA , Daemon Grimm was formed in 2016 as a studio collaboration among friends. Leading the partnership was drummer Brock Champagne , joined by original members Brandon Landry (guitar), Eddie Sartor (bass), and Jake Walker (vocals). In the beginning, there was no real direction for the band, just four good friends creating music together with each member bringing their unique style and emotion to the mix. Once the songs were complete, the band knew they had created something much more than just a few recordings. They made an entity, an alter ego, now known as “ Daemon Grimm .” Credit: Jennifer Touché In 2017 , the band dropped their first single, ' Peaceless World ', and their self-titled debut EP, Daemon Grimm —a collection of early recordings. However, it wasn’t until the release of their 2019 EP Big Bad Daze that Daemon Grimm’s signature sound was truly defined. The band draws inspiration from The Acacia Strain , Trapped Under Ice , and Portrayal of Guilt , with a distinct infusion of New Orleans hip-hop. “As far as taking inspiration outside the genre, we absolutely do. I think being from New Orleans, it's second nature to be into or listen to hip-hop, and in our music, certain songs, you can hear the hip-hop crossover. Whether it be the way Jake [Walker] does vocals, or a certain drum beat that Brock [Champagne] plays behind the music,” Brandon Landry explains. Since the release of Big Bad Daze to their most recent single release, ' DLYH Don’t Lose Your Head ' , the band has matured and morphed into a sound of heavy riffs, trippy music visuals, and lyrics written to reel you in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-TZIKv1kw The latest release from New Orleans' own Daemon Grimm Over the years, Daemon Grimm has faced significant adversity. Their biggest setbacks were line-up changes and the pandemic, which caused them to lose the momentum they had built. In 2019 , the band had just purchased a van to begin their journey on the road, only to have their plan crushed by the world’s shutdown of COVID-19 . In addition to the pandemic lockdown, they lost members while in the middle of recording. It was an emotional turmoil with such a devastating blow combined with bad timing. All hope was lost, and they sold the van in which they had invested their dreams. Eventually, Jake and Brandon brought in bassist Nick Moore and drummer PJ Huesmann , allowing them to play a few shows. Their last performance in 2022 seemed to mark a possible end to their journey, as the absence of Eddie and Brock left a noticeable void in the band's chemistry. Credit: Jennifer Touché By 2024 , the band’s future had begun to take shape. Brock ’s return in 2022 , the addition of a second guitarist, Lacy James , in 2023 , and the solidified return of Eddie in 2024 provided precisely what the band needed to rebuild their momentum. The band reignited their passion for their musical journey. “It just sparked that ignition to put in months of work learning and teaching songs, building an entirely new backline, just a newer version of the band, while being the same band you knew before,” recalls Daemon Grimm. By August 2024 , all their hard work paid off when they played their first show back at Southport Hall , supporting Entheos alongside Transient and Edifice . Shortly after, they played a second show supporting Texas-based Upon a Burning Body alongside Baton Rouge-based Branded for Exile . Kicking off 2025 at Chelsea’s Live , Daemon Grimm supported Swamp Stank alongside local acts Voice of the Enemy and Branded for Exile , making for a night to remember. “It was amazing to start the year with that show at Chelsea's, especially with such great local acts. Our expectations were surpassed tremendously…,” recalls Jake, “… honestly the whole night was memorable. It was one of our best shows since coming back, and to be the first to start the year set the bar for all of our upcoming shows. It is always great to have the crowd singing along to your songs, moshing from the set's first song to the last song.” Credit: Jennifer Touché Daemon Grimm ’s electrifying live performances have made them one of my favorite bands—not just to photograph but to experience. Their relentless energy and crushing groove riffs make it impossible to stand still. Don’t miss out—catch them live and throw yourself into the chaos of the pit! To learn more about Daemon Grimm: linktr.ee daemongrimm | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree View daemongrimm’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like YouTube, Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away! Upcoming Shows: Friday, February 28, 2025 Intracoastal Club 8448 Main St Houma, La $10 Doors @ 7pm Show @ 9pm *All photos by Jennifer Touché Jennifer Touché (@jennatouche) • Instagram photos and videos www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Harmonic Stew showcase is a vibrant celebration of emerging talent. < Back On the Scene: Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live June 6th, 2024 Rian Nickels Aug 8, 2024 Share The Harmonic Stew showcase is a vibrant celebration of emerging talent. I've been wanting to write on The Harmonic Stew Showcase for quite a while, and on June 6th, 2024, I finally had the opportunity to visit Chelsea's Live , a venue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , to experience the showcase myself. The Harmonic Stew is a local music showcase designed to shine light on up-and-coming talents in and around Baton Rouge. Though I missed the last acts of the night, Soul Jettison and Carter Patrick & The Telegram Salesmen , I got to catch South Louisiana local bands: The Dale Harris Band , Goodbye Academy , and Hey Thanks ! Credit: Rian Nickels The Dale Harris Band To kick off the night was Dale Harris , a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He sometimes performs as a solo act, sometimes as a duo with his brother Glenn Harris on lead guitar, but tonight, we got to experience the full Dale Harris Band with Dale and Glen alongside Adam on the bass and Mikey on the drums. They took the stage, and Chelsea's Live was filled with jazzy tunes and electric strums of songs like "The River" and " South Bound Train " that gave anyone from Louisiana a sense of home. With Dale's soulful voice and the rest of the band's rhythmic energy, it was easy for the atmosphere to wake up and come to life. This made The Dale Harris Band the perfect warm-up for the other acts in the local showcase. Goodbye Academy Next on the lineup was one of my favorite Louisiana alternative bands, Goodbye Academy . The trio (bassist and vocalist Jake, guitarist and vocalist Kris, and drummer Chase) exudes a well-practiced chemistry that shines through in their performances. They played mellow songs like " Intermission " and " Shaver, What A Last Name " to a smaller and more intimate crowd, but their audience got a little bigger with each song. By the time they got to more riotous and upbeat songs like "Thanks for the Toy" and "Best Ways, Worst Days," day-one fans sang along, and first-time listeners moved their bodies to the drum beat. Chase's endless versatility on the drums, Jake's ability to communicate with the audience, Kris's unique voice, and their entire harmony show that they belong on a big stage with all their works. Goodbye Academy did a spectacular job of drawing in the audience and keeping them interested and engaged with odes to past lovers and verses about growing up. With their deeply nostalgic lyrics and melodic guitar strums, I think Goodbye Academy makes the perfect "blueprint" for what I would call "Southeastern Emo." Hey Thanks! The last band I was able to catch was Hey Thanks! from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are a four-piece band with Travis as the frontman, vocalist, and bassist. Backed by bandmates Trevor on the drums and Micah and Jason on the guitars, this was their first live performance in six months, and their fans were ready for another chance to see them play. The very moment they arrived on the stage, the crowd became fuller and more excited, and it was easy to see that Hey Thanks was locally loved and supported. Their energy immediately got people onto their feet, ready to emerge themselves into the band's pop-punk-pop-synth-alternative type beats. With older songs like " I'm Sure It's on the Way " from their first record, " Start/Living ," and unreleased and untitled tracks, they had a perfect set list that shows you where they were and where they're going. Hey Thanks! brings a lot of musical variety, with bandmates playing multiple instruments, vocal range, and songs covering a spectrum of genre types and emotions. One of the things that stands out to me the most about them is their ability to bring a crowd of people with different music tastes together to enjoy just existing and listening to music. Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live was a testament to the vibrant and diverse music we have in Baton Rouge and beyond. From the soulful, jazzy rhythms of The Dale Harris Band to the nostalgic, emo-infused melodies of Goodbye Academy and the high-energy, genre-blending sounds of Hey Thanks!, the night celebrated talent and community. Each band brought their unique flavor to the stage, creating a night of music that felt both intimate and electric. Even though I missed the final acts, the performances I did see were enough to leave a lasting impression, reminding me of the power of live music and its ability to connect us. This showcase helped to show some of the best of what South Louisiana has to offer, making it a night to remember, and I cannot wait to experience more showcases in the future. Credit: Rian Nickels To learn more about the bands: Dale Harris Band: (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/daleishous (Website) www.daleharrisband.com (Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/artist/6SyHhI6ofWwqIvcZeJ09J0 (Apple Music) https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dale-harris/1570984678 Goodbye Academy: (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092575554398 (Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/artist/7q4JZHQjgEEkZ8q8dAhw2N (Apple Music) https://music.apple.com/us/artist/goodbye-academy/1750154912 Hey Thanks! (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/heythanksla (Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/artist/6kVxSrnHJh6Lzq0qJuBEwS (Apple Music) https://music.apple.com/us/artist/hey-thanks/1051345321 *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Got a show you'd like Rian to cover? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

A special night of Louisiana metal on March 7, 2026. < Back Reunited and Loud: Black Market Halos Mark 13 Years with a Comeback Show Nicole Brice Feb 11, 2026 Share A special night of Louisiana metal on March 7, 2026. Heavy metal along the Gulf Coast carries a cultural gravity all its own, fusing southern grit with the unfiltered force of loud guitars to produce a sound that feels both homegrown and far-reaching. Shaped by the state’s deep musical heritage, the local music scene has long served as a crucible of sorts for bands that turn real-life struggle, perseverance, and community into profound expression. Part of the mystique lies in how legacies are formed quietly with these bands – nurtured in garages, sweaty clubs, and through word-of-mouth – before their impact is fully realized years later. Hailing from Ascension Parish , Black Market Halos reflect that journey, standing on the brink of a milestone as they prepare for their first show in 13 years on March 7, 2026 , at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge with support from 9Slug and Voice of the Enemy . This is more than a return to the stage; it’s a testament to endurance and a reminder that a band’s legacy can take root long before the spotlight ever arrives. Credit: Gary Governale The underground metal scene in Louisiana doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves—it’s a community overflowing with talent, from veterans to rising artists. Many of these musicians balance day jobs with their passion, yet they still bring relentless dedication and precision to their craft. Black Market Halos are a product of that scene: seasoned, skilled players, some of whom have spent their lives performing in various metal bands across Louisiana’s underground. Credit: Gary Governale This reunion show at The Varsity matters for two reasons . First, it’s a chance to prove that Louisiana’s underground metal scene can draw a crowd at an iconic venue. Second, it’s a reminder that for many, metal isn’t just a genre—it’s the heart and soul of music itself. With a fresh 2026 lineup, Black Market Halos now features Shannon Guillot on vocals, Aaron Levy on drums, Shawn Tucker on guitar, Cody DeRouen on guitar, and Scott “Bozo” Hood on bass. As Black Market Halos gears up for their much-anticipated return, Mixed Alt Mag recently joined forces with Ryan Bordelon , aka “J Heist” of Backstage 504 , to catch up with the band and talk shop. Below is a snippet from our conversation—stay tuned for the full interview dropping soon on YouTube . MaM : So, let’s talk about this Varsity show. We were actually discussing off camera how many of the musicians in this room today have never played the Varsity. For those who aren’t familiar with Black Market Halos, what is the best way to describe your music to someone who has never heard it, so we can get them to the show? Shannon : We are just southern metal. Like we were talking about earlier, we just mixed different genres together and made a gumbo of sorts so that people who don’t normally like heavy metal will listen to us, and we’ve gained a lot of fans that way. MaM : Let’s talk about the line-up for this show. We have 9Slug and Voice of the Enemy on the bill as well, so how did it come to you ending up with those two bands on the show? Shannon : Well, 9Slug is our boys. They cut our teeth with us in Black Market many many years ago, and Jaide has always told me that if Black Market got back together, then he wants to play the first show, so we honored that. MaM : Hell yeah Black Market Halos : Nice guys, too. Shannon : When we started thinking about it, there were a couple of people we had in mind, as far as another band to play, but when it came down to it, some of the other bands we talked to couldn’t do it. Voice of the Enemy are really good guys, and they pull people to shows. MaM : Hard-working! Shannon : They promote, too. This is our comeback, so we wanted to put together a good enough show to make people understand that this is not just a one-time thing; we’re back on it. MaM : So, we have a nice night of southern metal planned with three different sounds because none of the bands sound alike. How long of a set are we thinking for this show? Shannon : We have 15 songs. We decided to pull songs from all three records. The first two are online, Hymns of Rebellion and Cleansing , but then there’s a third record we wrote and started playing songs off of before we went on hiatus. There are songs on there that our fans haven’t even heard yet, but there is one song that we’re playing that night called ‘These Scars’ that has never been played live yet, so we’re not only coming back, but we’re debuting a new song as well. MaM : (to Ryan from Backstage 504) What questions you got? You sitting over there all quiet and just letting me lead the conversation. (laughter) Ryan : You know you’re doing such a great job. (laughter) Shannon : Ask away, brother! Ryan : I don’t really know any of you guys, and I’m new to the scene, so I haven’t really heard of Black Market Halos until she called me up and said, ‘These guys are playing at the Varsity.' Shannon : What a shame. Ryan : I know, man! I missed a lot doing the raising the kid thing and all, but now I’m in the scene, and I’m learning about everybody. Shannon : What’s funny to me is that we were playing music while we were having kids, and now our kids are old enough to come to the bars to actually watch us play this music. Credit: Gary Governale Ryan : Who are some of your influences? MaM : Oh, they have them all over the place. (discussion) Ryan : Ok, let’s scratch that. Who is the guy or girl that got you wanting to play? Shannon : There are three vocalists who got me wanting to be a vocalist. Axl Rose , Sebastian Bach , and Phil Anselmo . Ryan : Okay! Shannon : I mean (points) – she knows, I tell her all the time that my songs have “Phil isms” in them. MaM : He’s got a very Phil-full voice. It’s incredible. I told him he could sing a freakin menu, and it would sound amazing. (laughter) MaM : I’m being honest! Cody : That’s our next album! (laughter) Ryan : Doing all the restaurant menus. Shannon : I mean, I grew up listening to classic rock and outlaw country with my father. I love Ronnie Van Zant , and the 70s style bands, but when Guns N' Roses came out, that was a big thing, you know, and then Skid Row , which is my favorite 80s band, but then when I heard Pantera … I was like, ‘Oh Lord!’. (laughter) Shannon : It was the future of metal, and when I heard ‘ Mouth for War ’ on MTV, I was like, ‘Dude, this is where it’s at!’ MaM ; So, ‘Mouth for War’ was your first Pantera song you heard? Shannon : Yep MaM : For me, it was ‘ Becoming ’, and I remember my brother was listening to it in his room, and I walked into his room. We were getting ready to go see Pantera in concert, and I didn’t know much about them at that time, so he plays ‘Becoming’ for me, and I hear that guitar at the beginning, and I’m just like, ‘What is this??? It’s so freakin good!’ Ryan : Mine was ‘ Drag the Waters ’, so I was late to the party. As Black Market Halos gear up for a special night of Louisiana metal, be sure to stay tuned for the full interview dropping on YouTube soon, where you’ll hear more from the members themselves about the show, their stories, and what’s next. See you on March 7, 2026 , at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge . To purchase tix: Black Market Halos Tickets, Sat, Mar 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite To learn more about Black Market Halos: Bandcamp: Music | Black Market Halos Facebook: Facebook *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Masked Mutilator Ezekiel Kincaid Share Jan 25, 2024 Masked Mutilator combines horror and wrestling, making for the ultimate B-movie experience. Zeke’s rating: 4 out of 5 Choke Slams Two of the greatest things God blessed us with on this planet are horror movies and wrestling. But you know what’s even better? When horror and wrestling combine for the ultimate B-movie experience! This is what we have in today’s review of Masked Mutilator . As a child of the 80s, I was a huge wrestling fan. It was the golden age of the sport, filled with icons such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, The Undertaker, Sting, Lex Luger, and Ric Flair. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we had the attitude era that started in the late 90s and carried into the early 2000s. This is when the more extreme stuff, like ECW ( Extreme Championship Wrestling ) went mainstream. And I loved it! I actually had the privilege of going to one of their events and saw a drunk guy pee all over the parking lot with a dazed look in his eyes and a smile on his face. Fun times. With that said, you can imagine my excitement when I came across a film called Masked Mutilator . I had high hopes for this movie, and it did not disappoint! To make things even better, one of my favorite B-movie actors of all time directed and played a leading role in this movie. Brick Bronsky , who passed in 2021, starred in the epic Troma films Class to Nuke’em High Part 3, Return to Nuke’em High Part 1, and Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. An interesting fact about Masked Mutilator is that it was filmed at two different times, over two decades apart. In 1994, the main storyline was filmed and was tucked away until 2018-2019, when the wrap-around segment was filmed. Filmmakers combined the two recordings and released it in 2019. Masked Mutilator opens with the wrap-around segment, in which Investigative Podcaster Jim Dorian (Steve Mittman, of Blood Hunter: Thirst and Rage ) hosts a show called “Dorian Investigates”. He has with him one of the surviving victims (and his girlfriend) of the Masked Mutilator’s carnage. As he begins to tell his story, the scene switches to Vic Mangino, aka Masked Mutilator (played by WCW, NWA wrestler, Jeff Sibbach), accidentally killing an opponent in the ring. Credit: IMDb He seems to show no remorse over his actions, and after leaving the sport, he takes a job as a house parent at a teenage rehabilitation center. And this is where the fun begins. We’ve got a great team of bad actors that play the teenagers in the home, and it makes for some hilarious interactions . First, there is bad boy Rocker (Glen Hetrick, Star Trek: Discovery 2019 and Face Off TV show judge) , who pretty much hates life and everyone else. He likes to play air guitar and bang his head to music only he can hear in his mind. Then we have Mason (Chet Cole, If Then Scenario ), Rocker’s right-hand man. He thinks he’s super tough but comes off as the type of guy who probably sleeps with stuffed unicorns and plays with dolls underneath his covers at night. We also have our “yes man” Jake (Paul Sutt, of Watchmen ), who’s a typical 90’s stoner and tags along with Rocker and Mason. But what would our story be without the promiscuous girl and the good kids who have fallen on hard times? Have no fear, reader, we have both in Masked Mutilator . Marcy (Amanda Kupchinsky) is the house slut. She denies it vehemently while attempting to bang everything that secretes the slightest amount of testosterone. Our good kids who have fallen on hard times are Greg and Leslie, a brother/sister duo played by Andrew Denzel and Heidi Shelhamer, whose only claim to fame—like Kupchinsky—is Masked Mutilator . And our story wouldn’t be complete without throwing in a presumptuous intern, a karate badass, and a chef who can’t cook for shit. The illustrious Brick Bronsky stars as Steve Carson, who comes on to serve as an intern to help Vic. He’s idealistic, pompous, and thinks he knows it all. Our karate expert is Brain Worth (Tom Taylor, of Blood Hunter: Thirst and Rage ), who winds up in the house for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Former professional wrestler Doug Yasinsky, aka Dashing Doug Flex, plays the part of Carl the Cook, serving the houseguests up with one inedible dish after another. With the stage set, the murders begin. One by one, the kids in the house are picked off by the Masked Mutilator. The kills are mostly done with wrestling moves, including Masked Mutilator’s finishing hold, which is basically a crude version of Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Dream. The gore is fun and done in typical B-movie fashion. Throw in some fake severed limbs and you got yourself a nice serving of B-movie soup . As the story unfolds, things take a turn, and Brian Worth must use his karate skills to try and save the day. There are some red herrings and twists to try and throw you off of guessing who the real killer is, but certainly don’t expect anything like Scream or Valentine . Lower your expectations, and when you’ve done that, lower them a little more. All in all, Masked Mutilator is an enjoyable B movie. If you like your wrestling mixed with horror, or your horror mixed with wrestling, I recommend you check out this little gem. Masked Mutilator is currently streaming on Tubi, Vudu, Prime Video, YouTube Premium, The Roku Channel, and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v8UBY6NQf4 Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Meet Mike Poole < Back Uno, Dos, Tres: The Man with the Plan in Three Bands Nicole Brice Oct 20, 2022 Share Meet Mike Poole Meet Mike Poole. Mike plays the drums, and he plays them loud! He is one busy man, and he not only holds down a normal 9-5 job, but he also finds time to play drums in not one, not two, but THREE bands that are heavily involved in the South Louisiana music scene. Seriously. How DOES he do it all? Recently, I reached out to Mike to speak with him about what drives him to perform and what interests him about being a musician. With a lengthy history in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, music scene, Mike isn’t just another drummer. His current projects are DeadCentered , Vatic Decryption , and Glacial Coffin , and all three bands have original music available you should check out, with even more on the way. A percussionist is a more fitting term for Mike because of the technical aspects he incorporates into his playing. LIKE WHAT? His ferocity on the kit is what sets him apart from all the others twirling the sticks out there. This man can play! credit: Gary Governale MaM : Obviously, you have someone or something that inspired you to pick up the sticks when you were younger. Who would you cite as your ultimate inspiration if you could only pick one? MP : Honestly, Phil Collins was my earliest influence. I've been a huge fan of his since middle school. I remember watching a live video of him playing the drums fill on ‘In the Air Tonight’ (yes, THAT drum fill) and that was the moment I knew I wanted to play the drums. MaM : I think everyone loves Phil Collins and you can't help but turn the radio up when the epic part of that song starts to come in. I can relate. You are currently involved in many projects ranging from Punk Rock to straight up Death Metal, but I'm sure you have an eclectic mix of music you listen to daily, as do I. What type of music inspires you to create? MP : I guess anything metal would be a given and obvious but oddly enough, a lot of my creativity and inspiration for wanting to create comes from a good bit of the pop music I listen to. Lady Gaga, to me, is one of the greatest artists of this day and age. Brian Fallon and any project he is a part of, too. And the Killers are one of my all-time favorite bands, too, so you have that. Their drummer, Ronny, is one of the greatest drummers I've ever had the privilege of seeing play live. His playing inspires me so much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcC1Ui_G_tQ MaM : I, too, am a huge Killers fan, and I feel they do not get enough recognition. What age were you when you first realized you had a heavy interest in music and what truly made you want to become an actual musician? MP : Well, I'll circle back to Phil Collins because I was heavily into his music in middle school, but it was probably around 8th grade when I decided I wanted to get a kit and start playing drums. Discovering heavy metal music really lit a fire under me, too, and it was somewhere between hearing the band Tourniquet, which is THE band that got me into metal, and hearing Metallica's ‘And Justice For All’ that turned my want to play drums into a NEED to play drums. credit: Gary Governale NB : Lars Ulrich is truly one of the greats, but I'm pretty sure he knows that. ::laughs:: Now, at the moment you’re involved in three music projects, right? Tell us a little more about those. MP : Well, currently, I am in three different bands, and I've been in all of them since 2017. I joined them all within a few months of each other. DeadCentered is a hardcore punk/thrash band. Glacial Coffin plays what I would call melodic Scandinavian death/black metal, and Vatic Decryption is a death metal band rooted in the second wave of death metal (90's Florida/New York death metal scene). All of my bands are currently active, and we have music available via all streaming outlets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZGkmQKOK50 NB : If you had to pick a favorite time of the year for playing music, what time would you pick? MP : Fall, hands-down! There is just something about the beautiful mild weather and the smell of bonfires and burning leaves in the air. It automatically puts me in a great mood. Plus, it's nice to not be sweating so much. And for us big guys, that is a very big deal. ::laughs:: For more info about all of Mike's current projects and to hear him in action, check out: DeadCentered | Facebook Vatic Decryption | Facebook Glacial Coffin | Facebook DeadCentered Official (@deadcentered_official) • Instagram photos and videos Vatic Decryption (@vaticdecryption) • Instagram photos and videos Glacial Coffin (@glacialcoffin) • Instagram photos and videos DeadCentered - YouTube Vatic Decryption Official - YouTube Glacial Coffin - YouTube credit: Gary Governale *All photos by Gary Governale* www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or Comments? Reach out to the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back Death Toilet: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Ezekiel Kincaid Share Nov 28, 2023 Death Toilet is a fun concept but is ultimately just a horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques and really bad storytelling. Rating: 1.5 out 5 toilet bowl stains Like many of the people who read these reviews, my sense of humor never graduated elementary school. As such, you can imagine my delight when I came across a movie called Death Toilet (2018) on Tubi. And speaking of Tubi, allow me to note that it is one of the best free streaming services for horrible movies. Take Death Toilet , for example. Any streaming service offering this movie obviously has no real standard … and I’m more than okay with that. It makes my job so much easier. I’ll start off by saying this: There are crappy movies, and then there is Death Toilet (see what I did there?). This film is on a level of awfulness all on its own. And if that’s not bad enough, the filmmaker thought it was a good idea to make four more of these movies. I’m not kidding. Now, I warn you, my faithful readers, this movie is bad. Like, really bad . It is so bad, I don’t know if there is a word in the English language to express this type of horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques. The acting is worse than an elementary church musical; the special effects look like they came from the quarter machine at a grocery store; the props look like they came from Dollar General; and the script sounds like it was a class project for a bunch of third graders. That's me being nice. Death Toilet is directed by Evan Jacobs ( Insect, The Toll Collector ) and written by Mike Hartsfield. Hartsfield plays the main character in all the Toilet movies and is the one who came up with this original plot. So, from the get-go, at least it has that going for it. Death Toilet focuses on Brett Baxter (Hartsfield), a Vietnam vet. who comes home to take care of his dead brother’s affairs. Brett soon discovers the toilet in his brother’s house is not normal, and believes it might have something to do with his death. And Brett is right. Death Toilet opens with Brett’s brother getting stabbed in the crotch by the demon-possessed toilet and, goodness gracious, the crappy special effects start here. I’m certain the fake blood is nothing more than chocolate syrup because there’s a quick scene in the movie where viewers can clearly see a bottle of syrup sitting on the bathroom sink—a glaring accident that should've been caught during filming and if not then, at least in post-production. When the demon manifests in the toilet, a knife blade comes out of the seat. I have to say, this was pretty cool, but what ruined the effect for me was the dime-store-looking eyes floating around in the toilet bowl, and then the water turning red with a little food dye to indicate blood. After Brett moves in, it doesn’t take long for the toilet to start acting up. When he begins hearing laughing sounds coming from the bowl, Brett calls a plumber, but he can’t find anything wrong with it. As the film (and I use that word loosely) progresses, Brett suspects the toilet is possessed or haunted. So, what do you do if you think you have a haunted or possessed crapper in your house? Call a priest, of course! The man sent for the job is—and I kid you not—Father Dingleberry (Isaac Golub, who has directed a few music videos, and sadly passed away this past April). At first, our illustrious priest thinks this is all a joke. Then, the demon manifests in the toilet, and a less-than-lackluster battle between good and evil ensues. I won’t give away the ending, just in case any of you readers decide to subject yourself to it. All in all, Death Toilet was a huge letdown for me. With a runtime of around 54 minutes, I can honestly say it was still too long. About ten minutes into the movie, I was seriously questioning my life choices. About fifteen minutes in, I was debating turning it off. By twenty minutes, I was wondering if I could make it through to the end. Then, I thought about you. My readers. How could I let you down? It was time for me, the one who prides himself on being able to endure such trash, to pony up. So, I did. I made it through Death Toilet in its entirety. All for you, folks. My tolerance has now leveled up in a big way, and I am proud of myself. Where most would have faltered and turned it off (like my fiancé did, who was watching it with me over video chat), I endured. Don’t ever say Zeke didn’t do anything for you! In my mind, what needs to happen with these movies is this: A studio with a bigger budget should snatch this up. The idea is great and would be an epic B movie with better acting and better special effects. Someone out there, please do this, because I'd love to see a remake done right! I can’t believe I am suggesting this, but if any of y’all want me to watch the rest of the Death Toilet "franchise" and review it, I will. All you need to do is send us an email with "For Zeke!" as the subject and I'll get it. And I’m sure, like other choices I’ve made in life, I’ll end up regretting it, but hey, this is what I do and I love it. Where to watch: Tubi. If you actually want to pay for it: YouTube Premium and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7G2UwBME8 Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Who On Earth is blending a classic rock vibe with modern twists and turns. < Back Who On Earth: Bringing the Thunder Back to Modern Hard Rock Nicole Brice Jun 13, 2025 Share Who On Earth is blending a classic rock vibe with modern twists and turns. Who On Earth? My sentiments exactly when I first discovered this band – a badass group that carries the torch for those who came before, that’s who. Blending a classic rock vibe with modern twists and turns, Who On Earth features epic solos and some of the cleanest-sounding guitars I've ever heard, not to mention those heavy basslines I love. This band is poised to dominate in the coming days with their hard rock and heavy metal straight from New Jersey . So, who is Who On Earth? Photo provided by band The lineup includes Coosh (vocals), Pete Rizzi (bass), Johnny James Barone (guitar), Jimmy Kocha (guitar), and Howie Fallon (drums). With a larger-than-life stage presence and a bellowing voice full of range, Coosh embodies the quintessential badass frontman. There is so much soul in every note he sings, and Who On Earth is actively bringing rock back. As I dove into their discography, I found that not a single song is lacking. Every track is fantastic and feels like a rocket waiting to launch . Yes, it's that good. Credit: Jeff Crespi Since 2022 , Who On Earth has released numerous songs , the latest being ' Yesterday's Future ' on April 29, 2025 . With a visually stunning lyric video to accompany it, ' Yesterday's Future ' is a thought-provoking piece of music with a powerful message, and I urge you to check it out after reading this article. Who On Earth’s music transcends typical compositions; it narrates stories. These poignant tales require your attention to the lyrics, which create vivid images of landscapes and scenarios, some rooted in folklore and others not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZKGUAGaRTc Official music video for 'Yesterday's Future' by Who On Earth This busy band is ready to perform and expand its empire, and if you love classic Iron Maiden with heartfelt storytelling , this band is for you. If you're into crushing guitar riffs and head-nodding grooves , you'll also love them. They even have an amazing cover of Toto's 'Hold the Line' that showcases their love for the greats of yesteryear. Full of personality and charisma with a message, Who On Earth is prepared to dominate a new era of rock with their desire, drive, and ambition to propel the band forward. Read on to learn more. MaM : First question – who designs your album and single covers? They are phenomenal! Pete : So, we’re big on artwork because we grew up looking at the art on the album covers, and because of all the songs put out every day, you want to stand out, and we want those strong covers that have meaning to them. For example, Smoke & Mirrors , Blame , and some of the singles on Blame , we had Ken Adams , who does all of Lamb of God ’s artwork; he did the artwork for that. We love Ken and love working with him. Smoke & Mirrors is all Ken , and it’s always Coosh and I getting on the phone with him discussing a new concept, and he’s just like ‘Oh, I love it!’, so we have an excellent synergistic working relationship with Ken. A lot of the others are AI-generated , where I’ve done a few, and my son is a graphic design artist, and he does a bunch, too. He’ll take an image based on a concept, and he’ll tweak it and get it how he wants, so it’s been a combination of things. Artwork by Ken Adams MaM : So, next question – the logo. Who designed it? It’s powerful and stands out. Coosh : He put out a contest on the internet or something. I’m not sure of all the details. Pete : So, there was a contest, and I can’t remember the website, but me and Coosh started the band, and we didn’t even have a guitarist yet or anything, but we did a logo, and made it on one of these online logo makers, but somehow, they made it a competition. People could put in their suggestions for us. We could put ‘these are the colors we want’, ‘it’s heavy metal and rock’, ya know, and we got back some crazy suggestions. (laughter) Pete : Some people didn’t realize we were a band and thought we were a lawn company or something. (laughter) This one guy was from Indonesia , and that logo you see was his creation. We didn’t even have the album yet, but we had the logo. That was it! We were so psyched. That’s been the logo ever since. The official logo for Who On Earth MaM : So, I went down the rabbit hole and checked out your entire discography. Man, not a single bad song. Not a one. You could put all your songs on a playlist and not have to skip a single one. No lie. Pete and Coosh : Thank you. MaM : Seriously, though, you are so tight as a band, and you can tell you are seasoned musicians, and that you are on a mission to bring this type of music back to the forefront. Your sound is what is missing today in music, which leads me to ask: what inspires your creativity, and what do you each bring to the mix with that? Pete : Well, for one, we would never put something on that we didn’t love, and so how we approach each song is that they have to be different from each other, so most of the music comes from me. I’ll write it, put it together, pre-produce it, and then it goes to Coosh . He’s the melody guy. We both work on lyrics. We’re very focused on lyrics. What we’re saying, how we’re saying it … we want to say it … but we don’t want to give it all away. We want it to remain open to interpretation. We want to tell a story and stimulate you to think about what the song and lyrics mean to you, but it starts with the music, and the music has to have groove. Credit: Jeff Crespi Sometimes, I’ll have a melody idea, but Coosh usually takes my melody and makes it ten times better, or eliminates it, and comes up with his own. He gets a feel from the music and a working title, and that’s how it starts. It’s got to have groove and melody, though. If there’s no melody, there’s no groove, and there’s no dynamic. That’s what we try to create. MaM : Coosh, what inspires your lyrics with these songs? Coosh : So, like Pete says, he’s the one who creates the music, but before he hands it off to me, he has the essence of the song planned out. He’ll go, ‘I hear a couple fighting with this,’ or something to that nature, and he gets this moment with the music where he relays the information to me, and I want to be able to put out his feelings, too, so I take that initial form and then go from there. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Now, Coosh, let’s talk about your voice. The range, soul, and depth! Is there anything you do to keep your voice in shape? Coosh : I didn’t use to do anything, but now I do these scales and humming. I’m no spring chicken anymore, so I have to do maintenance these days. A lot of the songs are hard for me to sing, so sometimes, I prefer doing a cover because it’s easier for me to sing than anything we’ve done in the studio. (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Yeah, man, when I first heard a few songs, I thought it had a very Bruce Dickinson vibe from Iron Maiden , and just the vocal range, I’m like ‘Dude!’ You have got some pipes on you. You don’t sound like anybody out there right now. So, a new EP came out in March, and now a new single, ‘ Yesterday’s Future ’, was released in April. However, I noticed that you have been steadily releasing singles as a lead-up to the EP, but you are still releasing singles after it. How did the EP come together, and what made you decide to release it instead of just the singles? Pete : In the old days, you’d put out an album, and then bands would just put out more albums every year or every few years, and we could do that. We have the five original songs on the EP, but then we also have five in our back pocket. We did five, but we have ten. We didn’t want to release the whole album because if you do, you might get a review or something, and then people move on to the next thing. The best method we’ve found is to spoon-feed it out. Give as many songs as a highlight, a video, and their artwork. It’s like a slow release of all your music. Additionally, you have to play the Spotify game, and Spotify is particularly friendly to bands like us who are doing that. We’re finding it’s also more content for us, social media-wise, and so we can remain relevant all year long. We’re staying ahead of the game. We have those five more songs, so they’ll be more content, more artwork, and pretty soon we’ll be working on new material that you’ll see sometime next year, so it’s just constant content from Who On Earth . Whereas I waited 13 years for a new Tool album. (laughter) Photo provided by band MaM : Have you found that all your numbers reflect one thing, but then people are just not coming to the shows? Pete : Yeah, oh yeah. Coosh and I have seen it. Yeah, we have great numbers, but to get people to get off their ass and come out, yeah. They’ll see the tribute bands, the cover bands, who cost more to see, and we’re only charging $10 to get in. We’re not making any money on this. (laughter) And it used to be, again, when we were younger, you would go out to hang out, and there would be bands playing, and it was part of your life. Now, it’s hard. People will stay in because of rain, and we had venues close because of COVID , so if you’re a bar band or a tribute band, you’re killing it. MaM : Same here Pete : If you’re an original band or even a line-up of three or four original bands, it’s tough. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : We’re finding the same here, too. So, I wanted to talk about this ‘ Hold the Line ’ cover. I’m a HUGE fan of Toto, especially this song, and ‘ Africa ’ is my jam. If I’m in the supermarket, and it comes on, I will stop what I am doing, and it’s my moment. (laughter) MaM : So, this cover … doesn’t even sound anything like the original song at all. It’s reimagined. Take me through how you decided to go with this song. Coosh : We had a handful of songs we were looking at, and how do you pick the perfect cover song to do? We’re going back and forth, throwing around ideas, and ‘ Hold the Line ’ came into play. I was around the house, staying at Pete’s house, and all of a sudden, I started singing this thing, and the part where he goes ‘TiiiiIIMMEE’, I was like, ‘That’s IT!!’ Look no further! (laughter) Pete : (sings) Love isn’t always on ‘TIME!’ (laughter) Pete : I was like, ‘That’s it!’, and I was hooked. You know what’s great about that song is it’s popular, but it’s not like ‘ Stairway to Heaven ’, and we wanted to remake it, not cover it. His distinct voice, tuning it down, double bass drums, changing some lines, taking out the keyboards, and adding a different guitar. I wanted to do it because of his vocals. When we jammed it, I knew that was the one. The inflection that he used, and the balls that he sang it with. Cause it’s a yacht rock song classic, and I hate yacht rock. (laughter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8f6EPqGHhA Official Music video for 'Hold the Line' MaM : Same – not a fan of yacht rock, but I do love me some Toto . Pete : I do like some Christopher Cross songs, too, but that’s what my parents listened to. (laughter) MaM : Right! Pete : Holy crap! Coosh , we did a yacht rock classic before the yacht rock tribute stuff started blowing up! (laughter) Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Do you have a favorite song to perform, and if so, which one? Coosh : Just because it’s the most emotional, I’ll have to go with ‘ Watch the Fires Burn ’. I guess you could say it’s our environmental song , but it’s a heartfelt message of having the passion as a society to take care of the planet. All of us. Pete did this when he was like 18 or 19 years old, and it’s excellent, and I didn’t know what to do with it when he first handed it to me, but it has this great dynamic and has so much emotion. Pete : Yeah, that song I wrote when I was in my very early 20s, and it was called ‘Matter of Life and Death’ , and I wrote it about abortion. That’s a topic; at the time, and it was from the perspective of the unborn child. Like, ‘Hey, what about me?’ I didn’t want to go there with it in this day and age, so I was thinking, what’s a great and important topic? I’m sitting here watching the Amazon burning , and I’m like, ah, watch the fires burn. Not so much about hey, stop burning our trees, but we’re all just sitting back here watching this. Somebody has got to do something about it, and nobody is doing anything about it. To Coosh’s point, you can take that and broaden it to a lot of topics. It’s just about sitting back and watching things go to waste. But the song itself, its ups and downs … it’s a six-minute song, and some songs need to be six minutes. As long as you’re doing something different in it, and then, man, it’s heavy … it’s got groove. It’s got funk. MaM : Yes, lots of tempo changes. Pete : Tempo changes, which our producer always makes fun of me for, but I love tempo changes. MaM : I do, too. It keeps the song interesting. Pete : Playing it live is really fun. MaM : Which song do you feel is the crowd favorite and gets people most engaged? Pete : I’m gonna say ‘ Black Swan ’. MaM : I made a note on my notes about that song, actually. Pete : Coosh may disagree, but he does a great job of coaching the crowd to sing along, and it’s got this chorus that allows everyone to get involved. MaM : So, Coosh, your vocals, let me ask you … you have range like I haven’t heard in a long time, so obviously you’ve been doing this a while. When did you first discover you had a gift for singing with such a powerful voice to do rock music? Coosh : I’m not a rock music guy, so that’s the crazy part. When I was in my early 20s, we would all do the karaoke thing, but I would stick to songs like ‘ Suspicious Minds ’, and it was all a great time. Everyone enjoyed it, but I ended up buying a karaoke company, singing, and becoming a host, until one day, a buddy came in. He mentioned he had lost the lead singer of his band, and I went up and sang ‘ Drops of Jupiter ’ for him by Train , and that was it. I was in. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : What would you like to see in the next five years as far as your music and audience? Pete : I’d love to see it all continue to grow. We understand we need to keep working hard. I like what we’re doing, too, but I want it all to gather momentum, and I want to keep playing shows. Maybe even go on a small tour , even if it’s regional. Want to get out there live. There is nothing like the impression you leave on someone after they see you perform live. Coosh : I’d love to figure out how to get the exposure we need and get people to listen to the song more than once. Most of the time, you have to listen to a song twice and be attentive to it. We’re not a regular band. Most of our songs tell stories because they’re relatable. We have inspiration. We have devastation. We have messages about life. We have stories that people need to hear. As Who On Earth continues to grow their brand and presence, they are sure to inspire and leave a lasting impression on music fans for generations to come. Check out their music on your favorite streaming service, and if you live nearby, be sure to catch a live show. You won’t regret it—these guys deliver a powerful sound! *cover photo provided by band *other photos by Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! To learn more about Who On Earth: www.whoonearththeband.com Who on Earth Official Website The official website and store for the band Who On Earth. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Who is Fish? < Back Messing Up Quests and Putting Things to the Test Nicole Brice Feb 15, 2023 Share Who is Fish? One day as I was doing my daily scroll on social media, I came across a YouTube video a friend had shared, and it was titled Stuck Inside a Video Game . I was like, “Hmmm, what could this be?” as I pressed play, not sure of what I was about to watch. For the next five minutes and 42 seconds , I was snickering like a goober while watching this cinematic masterpiece in all its humorous glory. The creator of the video I had just watched was a guy named Fish . After that moment, I shared the video because it was awesome and because most can relate to anything pertaining to video games. Little did I know that a few months later, while looking for talent to scout and write about, I would happen upon the Instagram page of the same artist/musician responsible for the epic YouTube video I had seen and gobbled up like a goober. For those who have not seen the jewel that is Stuck Inside a Video Game , it is a clever song and music video of a guy on a couch playing The Legend of Zelda , showing different scenarios and scenes of the main character being sucked into the actual game, complete with witty commentary, sexy women back-up dancers/singers, and much hilarity. In fact, before you finish this article, you must watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCLgVeQtDnE Stuck Inside a Video Game by Fish So, who is the guy behind this glorious gem? Well, folks, his name is Sam Fishman , a.k.a. Fish . I bet you’re probably asking, “ Who is Fish? ” So please, allow me. Not only is Fish a producer, a drummer, a video game enthusiast, and a kick-ass human , BUT he is also extremely witty, very intelligent, and super talented. When he’s not making amazingly awesome YouTube videos with clever concepts, he spends his time spinning the sticks as the drummer of the New York-based Americana/Folk rock band, Driftwood … truly an entertaining man. Keep reading to learn more! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Good Morning! Thank you for speaking with me today. So, let’s preface this by saying how wonderful it is to be speaking with the creator of “Stuck Inside a Video Game.” I saw it a few months back and instantly fell in love with it. Fish : You saw that? (laughs) That’s fortuitous. MaM : Yes, I saw it before I knew who you were and instantly thought, “This dude is awesome!”. Fish : Oh wow! (laughs) Yeah, that’s so funny. The universe is pointing in the right direction. MaM : So, not only are you making incredibly creative videos, but you are also the drummer in the band Driftwood, correct? Tell us a little more about that. Fish : So, I had been living in Brooklyn for about seven months when the pandemic hit and then, at that point, I said, ‘Alright, I’m gonna move out of the city.’ So, I left Brooklyn , moved back home with my folks for a little bit to figure out what the next move was, and then I felt like moving to Ithaca, N.Y. I felt like that was the best move for me. I have some familiarity with New York State, so I said, ‘Let me try Ithaca out,’ and I moved there. The first year that I’m there, it’s like [the] pandemic. Everything was closed. Nothing was happening. I started getting situated and reaching out to people, and through a mutual friend, I connected with Joey Arcuri . Joey is the bass player for Driftwood , and we connected, and so I said, ‘Joey, we should jam sometime,’ and we both know Chris . Chris is our mutual friend, and Joey said, ‘Yeah, that’d be great, man. Let’s keep in touch.’ A couple months go by, and I reach back out to Joey, and he gets back to me the next day and tells me their drummer had just left and then asked me if I’d like to audition for the band. The timing worked out, and because Joey and I had that mutual friend, we made the connection, and there ya go. MaM : Wow, that is incredible! You obviously have a background in music, so at what age did you start playing drums, and who are your musical influences and inspirations? Fish : I started playing drums in 3rd grade. MaM : Wow, 3rd grade? Just the fact that you can even remember back that far is awesome. I don’t even remember what I was doing at that age. Fish : Yeah, I had begged my parents for, like, two years to get me a drum set, and then they did. As far as influences, I have so many drummers I am into. That’s a really good question. It kind of taps into, like, there is stuff you can enjoy and then there are things you can kind of listen to cerebrally to get that music, and it makes sense in your brain; but, then there is music that hits your body and makes you feel things, and I guess for me, there are times when I love listening to hard rock and metal, and that sort of hits more intellectual [sic] for me because I’m understanding it in a way, but when I want to feel stuff, I really love listening to music with a groove and a laid-back vibe. For example, I’ve been listening to Madison Cunningham lately. It’s more Americana vibes. Very singer/songwriter … female vocals, relaxing … not gonna put me on edge. MaM : Do you prefer more singer/songwriter type of music? What’s your favorite type of music? Fish : Oh man, it’s very seasonal for me. I couldn’t tell you what my favorite is. For instance, I’m into these well-crafted songs kind of things and lush orchestrations, really just in the groove, in the pocket, but there may come a time in the summer where all I want to listen to is some heavy stuff. For instance, what’s the band from Chicago? I’m blanking out. The guy who does the “Oo-wa-ah-ah-ah!”? MaM : Disturbed? (laughs) Fish : (laughs) Yeah, Disturbed . I’ll maybe put on a little Disturbed . MaM : Get down with the sickness! (laughs) Fish : Yep yep! (laughs) … and I love Britney Spears ! I was listening to [her] the other day. MaM : Me too!!! One of my guilty pleasures! Fish : Yeah, Britney Spears , so good. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : So, tell us a little more about this video. I need to know all the details, because that thing is badass! Fish : (laughs) Yeah, that is so insane! There are a lot of layers to that video. On the surface, it’s this really wacky, like, surreal video. I mean, I’m stuck in a video game. I’m stuck in ‘ The Legend of Zelda .’ It’s actually a reflective piece, and for a while, in my, like, late-20s or, well, even when I was, like, 31 [or] 32—which, I’m 36 now, or, rather, I’ll be 36 this coming Sunday. Even into my early 30s, I found myself playing games a little too much, and I wasn’t really living. The music video was a big, cathartic release for me. I wrote this rap song about being stuck in a game, and I wrote it the way I knew how, and then I said, Screw it! I’m gonna go all in. I’m gonna fly out to Los Angeles. I’m gonna get this thing legit.’ I found a video crew, Blurred Pictures , Rosco – he’s this great director out there. His mind moves a mile a minute, and we just got a team and I said, ‘I’m gonna produce this thing,’ and we really did it. I wanted to share my experiences in a way other people would relate. I feel like there’s a lot of guys out there that are stuck in this video game world, and they don’t even realize it. The video is a fun way to show the lines can be blurred if you play too many games. Is your life the game? Is the game your life? That whole back-and-forth dilemma. MaM : I can totally relate to that because my husband is a gamer, but he never let it consume him 100%. Now, my best friend, her boyfriend is so consumed by video games that he completely ignores her, and she is a total babe! I can definitely identify with your video. Fish : See? That’s what I mean. It’s relatable! Another part of it was that the women in the video are from ‘ The Legend of Zelda ,’ too … the three goddesses of the Tri Force … but they also take on a different meaning because they’re very sexy in the video, and because of that, if you’re attracted to women, women could become a distraction if you’re a little too focused on the game. You must find that balance. This is not my life’s purpose. My life has a greater purpose. The takeaway from this video is battling your shortcomings, getting out of your comfort zone, [and] really trying to better yourself. MaM : What is your favorite video game? Fish : Zelda … but then, which Zelda , right? I have some games that are definitely in the top 10, but simply because of the symbolism in the hero’s journey, Zelda is probably going to take the cake. I’m going to have to go with ‘ Ocarina of Time ’ as the best or as my favorite, with my second favorite Zelda game being ‘ Link’s Awakening .’ MaM : That’s awesome. I wanted to ask you, prior to Driftwood, were you playing in any other bands? Give us a brief history of your music career. Fish : So, if you thought the video was crazy, this is even crazier. Before I got into Driftwood , I was touring around the country and even got to go to Japan with my former band. I was playing with this group called Madison Rising , a political band, and it was a great opportunity for me to travel, and I learned a lot. I ended up leaving the band, though, to focus on other endeavors. The takeaway from that is that I learned a lot about the music industry, and I got to open up for Lynyrd Skynyrd , Aerosmith , and Weezer . We had a good run. I started with them in 2011 and left in 2018 . [I] spent seven years with them and learned some incredible things. Great learning experience. MaM : Steppingstones, though, to get to where you are today. Fish : Absolutely. Had I not experienced those situations with that band, then I would not have learned about what it means to be a professional musician. MaM : I want to learn more about these videos on Instagram and more about your production work. You have such an interesting story to tell. Fish : Appreciate that. The production stuff you mentioned is kind of inspired by art. Like, here’s a drumming solo; here’s me drumming to this; [and] here’s my friend doing a piano piece. I’m starting to sort of play in both worlds. The music video, for instance, plays on some surrealism there. I have a video I will be posting soon of me just roaming around a recording studio while my friend, Andrew Klein , makes scary sounds on metallic percussion instruments. MaM : (laughs) That’s so awesome! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia Fish : There is one where I am going to be dancing behind the drummer, Andrew Klein , while he plays drums. (laughs) I want it to be fun. Trying to just do some silly stuff that is different. Trying to lighten up this whole ‘I’m a serious artist’ business. That’s where I’m at. I love being in the production role. I like seeing visions of mine come to life. I have good organizational skills, and being a good producer, to me, is having good organizational skills. MaM : Do you own your own studio? I’m curious as to where you are recording. Fish : I’ve been investing in myself, and I like going to different studios, as opposed to trying to set up my own studio. I’m not into that. Maybe if I had a ton of money, I could make my own studio. There is something about working in someone else’s space that forces me to be more creative … working within the limitations … let’s adapt. For example, Wilburland Recording Studio is a place I go back to quite a bit. It’s a place where the latest Instagram clip was filmed. It’s a great open space, and I like working with Will a lot, and it’s close to where I live. I like trying different things. I don’t want to get locked into the same pattern. I have another bit coming up that I recorded. Mikaela Davis is a prominent harp player in New York state, and I’m bringing her to Wilburland , and she’s going to perform the great fairy fountain music from ‘The Legend of Zelda.’ MaM : Love it! If you lived here in Louisiana, we’d be hanging out! Fish : I feel that, too, just based upon our conversation. You’re just good energy. MaM : I’m such a nerd. I read and I meditate, and I like science. Are you currently based in New York, still? Fish : I live in Ithaca, New York. MaM : You know, every time I hear the name Ithaca, I think of the movie, “Road Trip!” Fish : Yes! (laughs) You are so on point! Yes! MaM : That’s what I instantly think of with Ithaca. So, with your extensive background in the industry, I just must ask you what you think the music industry is lacking these days? Fish : That’s a great question. To me, what’s lacking is education, and what I mean by that is that the local artists, they don’t fully understand what it means to run your band as a business. Any local artists who are complaining, and I get this in Ithaca through friends, like they are really making forward progress and are passionate about what they’re doing, but they don’t understand that if your band is going to progress, then there needs to be an awareness that if your band is not run like a business, then don’t have any expectations of moving forward. If you want to move forward, you must do all the work on the business side to help you establish a plan. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : I completely can identify with that because you are building your band as a brand. You must brand yourself to stand out so that people take notice. What are you working on currently? Fish : One of the upcoming things is a screenplay for a movie. I just finished the first draft. It’s called ‘ Cicada Madness .’ It’s based on an audio project that is already completed, and I just decided to take it to the next level, but I’m certain I will be doing a crowdsourcing fund for the movie, because I want to have a big budget. When you think of the film, though, it’s a B-movie … sorority girls, cicadas flying around just exploding… (laughs) . MaM : So, is it like Hitchcock’s The Birds but with cicadas? Fish : Yeah, but funny. Not meant to scare you. Just total fun. Driftwood is currently recording an album, and we plan to release it in the fall. This is their most mature album to date. It’s going to defy expectations and has a lot of variety. Those are the main things. I have a video that is supposed to be finished by the end of February where I teamed up with a community music school to put on a performance of Claude Bolling’s ‘Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano ,’ and it brings me back to my roots of reading music and performing. I imagine I’ll be posting some clips from it in early March. I love doing different things where maybe you’ll get Jazz & Classical one day and then you’ll get crazy silly skit the next day. I have a lot of different things I want to do. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Ok, so big question. Who is Fish? Fish : Well, right now he’s the drummer of Driftwood the band; he does session work; and he produces and collaborates. But, yeah, Fish is ever evolving. That is the safe answer. Fish wants to inspire others. Fish wants to collaborate. That’s the key word. Fish is someone who wants to work with a lot of different people. Fish is a leader. Fish wants to bring out the best in other creative people. I love going to a keyboard player that I see potential in or that I think is phenomenal and I’ll say, ‘Hey, man! Let me get your number. We’re gonna work together.’ I just get right down to it. If I want to work with someone, I let them know. Fish really wants to bring out a vision and be part of a team. To learn more about Fish, check out all his links below and enjoy! Website: Who Is Fish? - Sam Fishman | Drummer, Composer, Creator Instagram: Who Is Fish? (@whoisfishig) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube: Who Is Fish? - YouTube Facebook: Who Is Fish? | Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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One Super-Cool Writer in Love with the Land < Back Jonathon Engels Keeley Brooks Jan 11, 2023 Share One Super-Cool Writer in Love with the Land Sometimes, there’s a man, and sometimes, well, there’s a man who holds such deep mystery in his eyes, you just have to dig in and get to know him. That’s the case with creative, travel, and permaculture writer Jonathon Engels. Having graduated with Jonathan back in the Nineties, I thought I knew where he was headed in his life, which, having briefly known him like I did, I was certain was towards something technical, even though I was aware he had creative interests and abilities. But, he proved me (and I’m sure plenty of others) wrong by moving on to secure a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis, then on to embark on a hefty career abroad traveling, teaching English as a foreign language, and writing about it all. Engels is from a suburb outside of Baton Rouge, La. He started out writing poetry at an early age, then developed an interest in writing fiction and playing music in his late teens in the Nineties. By his late 20s, he was tinkering with nonfiction in the form of travel writing and by 2014, he was focused on permaculture and on sharing his wealth of knowledge and worldly experience from a personal perspective. In speaking about his year teaching abroad, he said, “That adventure led me to write about the world I was discovering. I started getting published as a travel writer first (in 2011), became a staff writer for One Green Planet and Permaculture News (in 2013), and expanded from there.” Today, Jonathon is back living in the States and has been busy with his wife, Emma, building their homestead, which is made predominantly out of recycled materials in a wholesome effort to become one with the land. He stays busy writing non-fiction articles and essays that are so insightful, educational, humble, and direct, it’s as though you’re right there with him experiencing what he’s talking about or he’s with you as you’re reading. His words are a gentle guide through certain necessary human processes, of which we should all be more aware. Engles hooks you with his writing, drops you right in the middle of what he’s talking about, and presents you with something more than just a story to read; he presents you with an undeniably human truth worthy of consideration. He guides readers through the depths of each journey to ensure you stay on track and, most importantly, have an enjoyable ride. His candid use of humor reminds you not to take yourself or what you’re doing so seriously that you miss the beauty of life unfolding right before your eyes. Jonathon kindly took some precious time away from his land and work to chat with me about how he fell into this path, where he has been, what he has written, and what he’s up to today. I highly recommend checking out his work, especially if you are interested in or are considering traveling abroad, learning how to live as one with this great land, and writing about it. MaM : How did you foster your creative talents? JE : I wrote poetry here and there when I was a young teen, but when I started going to college (Louisiana State University), it just exploded. I wrote constantly, mostly out of a need to do it rather than a fine-tuning of a craft. I experimented a lot in the form. [I] still do when I occasionally attempt writing poems. Prose became my main concentration in graduate school (U of Memphis) when my sensibilities didn’t quite mesh with the poetry crowd there. I concentrated on fiction, again playing with form a lot, exploring different ways to piece a story together. Engels is also a musician—a guitarist, to be exact, which no doubt fosters his creative abilities and has been a source of release and entertainment over the years. JE : I’ve played music a lot on porches with friends. Mostly, I play guitar and sing. I played regularly at a bar/coffee shop when I was at LSU. I [also] worked at a guesthouse off and on for years in Guatemala and played a lot while there, often entertaining guests and occasionally plugging in for shows on weekends. I’ve never really tried to do it professionally or even develop my skills to that level. I like to play and sing and have a laugh with it. I also have ukulele, which I mostly play when someone else is playing guitar and singing in order to add a different sound to the mix. I have a picked a banjo from time to time, but I don’t [own] one. MaM : Do your write your own songs? JE : I’ve done it but didn’t feel that I was particularly good at it. So, mostly I just play music from artists that I like: Tom Waits, Bonnie Prince Billy, Bob Dylan, Devil Makes Three, The Band, etc. MaM : Are you playing anywhere? JE : Just at home and with friends. Some friends have encouraged me to do an open-mic night in town, but I’ve not as of yet. MaM : Take us through your time abroad and how life began to unfold for you as a writer. JE : Travel writing began when I lived in Korea (2005-2008), working as an EFL teacher. From there, I traveled and worked abroad for another 10 years. It seemed natural to write about my adventures, and it gave me the plot I always struggled to find when writing fiction. Though it started as a creative pursuit, my travel writing is now sometimes practical (for which I get paid) and sometimes creative (for which I get to say I’m literary and receive no money). The travel stuff morphed into more non-fiction avenues when I found opportunities to write for One Green Planet, a vegan/environmental website, and Permaculture News, a permaculture site. I’ve also written text for permaculture courses. These two outlets, as well as Green Global Travel, Transitions Abroad, and Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, are how I’ve made a modest amount of money writing. Even so, I have continued to seek out avenues to be creative. I did some of that on Permaculture News, and I’m on the masthead of Panorama, a literary travel journal. I write a minimum of 12-15 articles/stories a month and have done so for about 10 years now. Permaculture became a daily part of life during a work-trade trip from Guatemala to, though we never reached it, Patagonia. My wife Emma and I spent about four years traveling around Latin America and Spain trading labor and knowledge for room and board. We also did quite a lot of volunteer work. Now, I live on a permaculture homestead, which means I practice it every day. We built our off-grid home ourselves, maintain a big garden and orchard, and both write about permaculture topics for One Green Planet. We also grow organic vegetable and flower gardens for a living, as well as volunteer doing it at a community music school in our nearest town: Elkin, N.C. MaM : That’s cool, man—both of you doing what you love together, then writing about it for others to absorb. Take us through your journey that led to a writing degree, multiple publishings, and a life rich in travel and culture. JE : I started LSU as a chemical engineering major because I’d been a good math student in high school, and my father was an engineer at Exxon. By the second semester, I was skipping Physics and Chemistry classes to go bowling, and Calculus had bowled me over. I wrote poetry all the time on my own time, so I started taking more writing and English classes. I switched my degree to English and that was that. [From there] I went to graduate school in Memphis. I moved there, got a job waiting tables, and applied to the University of Memphis the next year. Luckily, they took me. After I got an MFA in Creative Writing, I decided to teach for a year abroad. That turned into over a decade abroad. That adventure led me to write about the world I was discovering. MaM : Any creative writings currently in the works? JE : Panorama: The Journal of Travel, Place, and Nature published a piece at the end of November [last year]. I wrote it in September-October while I was in England. It’s about an experience in Guatemala. The journal, which I’ve written a few things for, went on hiatus for a couple of years, and this is the relaunch issue. [Click the image below to read Jonathon's story.] Otherwise, I still write (practical stuff) for One Green Planet every week, as well as a website called Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide. Neither of these are creative work, but they keep me busy and leave little space for other writing. MaM : Tell us about some of the creative works you’ve written and where they are published. JE : Panorama: The Journal of Travel, Place, and Nature: - There’s No Place – about finding a home after living out of a backpack for about 12 years. Published by Panorama. - From Texas to Turkey and Back Once More – about my father coming to visit me in Istanbul while I was teaching there. Won 2nd place in Expatriate Writing Contest on Transitions Abroad. - Living the Homesteader Dream: Everything Works Out, and Works, Kind of” – about the woes of off-grid living. Published on Permaculture News. I was a featured author in a print journal called Poiesis Review . The issue (#7) has five of my stories, including “5 Miscues in Packing: Hard-Earned, Largely Ignored Advice from a Vagabond,” “The Bibimbap Man,” “The Other Side of Texas,” “10½ Lessons in Misadventure Travel,” and “On Motorcycles with Milkshakes.” I’d actually submitted these to a different publication, “Go Read Your Lunch,” and through some connection, the stories got passed over to Poiesis. The editor contacted me wanting to do the featured author thing. Dumb luck. “Go Read Your Lunch” did publish one piece: Another Cup of Tea: A Personal Survival Guide to England . It’s about my first trip to England with my British wife Emma, and that involved a lot of having to pee because of the overabundance of tea and being unable to find a public restroom anywhere in the country. MaM : Let’s talk about permaculture. Dish about it and your specific approach and why. JE : Permaculture is a way of designing human habitats and habits, from personal spaces to communities, so that we work in harmony with nature, each benefiting the other. Most people, including me, come to it via gardening, but it is much more involved than that. It includes how we build homes to fit our surroundings, how we collect and distribute water, get/use power, interact with others, and more. To truly practice permaculture is life-altering, much more than putting in a raised bed garden, with which it is often confused. My approach to permaculture has been to use what’s around as opposed to buying in new materials. For example, we dismantled a shed and [some] two-hundred-year-old, dilapidated homes to get the lumber to build our house. We built our fencing from limbs and such that I scavenged from work when we had to clean up trees. The gardens are made from pond bottom that was excavated when digging our pond, and we have used leaves, hay, stones, wood, and so on that we’ve collected from various sources that had deemed them refuse. This has also been the case with many of the plants, particularly flowers, growing on the property. There is something rewarding and pure about doing it this way. It takes longer, but I feel it stays true to making a minimum, or even positive, impact on our immediate environment. Plus, the improvisational nature of using what’s there keeps the design process creative and innovative. To some, this approach has seemed extreme at times, but there are many out there doing a much more thorough job of it. We did buy some new stuff, mostly because we had to in order to pass our building inspection. MaM : What drew you to permaculture? JE : I was volunteering on a farm/eco-hotel in Nicaragua. The owner turned me on to it. From there, I read some books, visited a few more farms, and started seeking it out. Within the year, I’d read a bunch of texts, was developing a property in Panama, and actually began writing articles for Permaculture News about what we were doing. MaM : What has been and is your current relationship with the land? JE : We are in love with each other. For more on Jonathon and his travel and permaculture adventures, you can find him at Panorama , One Green Planet , and Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide . *images provided by Jonathon Engels www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back What the Hell Did I Just Watch: Sharktopus vs Whalewolf Ezekiel Kincaid Share Aug 14, 2023 Sharktopus vs Whalewolf has its moments but is ultimately a flop Rating: 2 out of 5 aging MLB players whose career is tanking Welcome to the movie that tanked Casper Van Dien’s acting career! Ha ha, just kidding. His career was over not too long after he did Starship Troopers in 1997. With that said, if you’ve hung around the B-movie scene for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard of the Sharktopus movies. So what the hell is Sharktopus? It’s a genetically altered shark with the upper torso of a Great White and the lower torso of an octopus. Yes, it is a shark with tentacles. Got your attention? Sounds pretty cool, right? And it is, or it was—right up until Sharktopus vs Whalewolf . Sharktopus vs Whalewolf (2015) is the third installment of the Sharktopus film series and is the second sequel. It was directed by Kevin O’Neill , who only has a short six titles to his directing credit—none of which you’ve probably seen, unless you watched Dinoshark (2010) or Sharktopus vs Pteracuda (2014); he did, however, work on visual effects for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Blade (1998), and Piranha 3D (2010). Sharktopus vs Whalewolf stars Casper Van Dien ( Starship Troopers, Alita: Battle Angel ), Catherine Oxenberg ( Dynasty, The Lair of the White Worm ), Andrew E. Tilles (visual effects for Surrogates and Fast Five ), and Akari Endo ( Cristo Rey ). The plot is pretty basic and picks up where Sharktopus (2010) and Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda (2014) left off: Somewhere in the Caribbean at an anti-aging clinic, a psychotic genetic scientist named Dr. Elsa Reinhardt (Oxenberg) mixes the genes of a killer whale and a grey wolf, because, well, we’ve all been curious, haven’t we? In an experimental process, she then inserts the genetic mix into Felix Rosa (Tilles), an aging, disgraced Major League Baseball player whose career is tanking; Rosa hopes the experiment will be a success and that his talent will be restored, but the experiment goes awry. Rosa turns into an unstable werewolf creature and in order to stabilize the wolf in him, Dr. Reinhardt adds Orca DNA and boom! We have a whalewolf —moreover, we have a whalewolf who now threatens Sharktopus’s territory. Things get a little out of hand when Sharktopus and Whalewolf meet … and fight. Sounds like the plot of your typical monster movie, right? Yeah, that’s because it is. There is a little sub-plot though, but it makes absolutely no sense at all. Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf opens with a funeral taking place on a boat for a burial at sea. The funeral is interrupted almost immediately with an attack from Sharktopus. As a result, a woman goes missing and, long story short, local police chief Nita Morales (Endo) throws Captain Ray (Dien) in jail. A local voodoo priest bails Ray out of jail and wants him to fetch the heart of Sharktopus to use in a ceremony as payment for this debt. Meanwhile, Inspector Nita Morales is trying to figure out what is going on with all the killings and whalewolf sightings; she thinks people have gone nuts until she sees the insanity for herself. The movie ends with a less-than-climatic battle between the two sea titans. Who wins? Really? Like I’m going to give that away in a review. You’ll have to watch for yourself to see who comes out on top in this borefest. My advice is to just skip to the end and watch the final battle. You won’t be missing anything, I promise. There were a few comedic scenes that made me chuckle, but the comedy falls flat and encourages several eye rolls, not in a good way. Sharktopus vs Whalewolf has its moments but is ultimately a giant flop, especially in the face of its Sharktopus predecessors. Let’s talk about the effects. The CGI in Sharktopus vs Whalewolf is pretty bad, which is kind of to be expected in a SyFy Original movie but is still a little shocking, given that the effects in both Sharktopus and Sharktopus vs Whalewolf were pretty decent--also given the fact that its director is the founder of a special effects production company called Flat Earth Productions. Here, the filmmakers didn’t even try to make their effects look real or even hide the fact they are using CGI. It’s almost like they are proud of what a crap job they did; instead of any really fun effects, we’re given pure CGI involving a ton of CGI blood spatter that honestly couldn’t look more fake if it tried. At least go for real-looking blood, balance out the visuals a bit. It made me long for the days when actors dressed up in rubber suits to play the monsters. Now, if we could get a Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf remake with people in rubber suits fighting (and starring Will Ferrell), I’d watch that. I’d also be good with Simon Pegg or Rainn Wilson in the starring role. Any takers out there who want to start working on a script? All in all, Zeke gives this movie 2 out of 5 aging MLB players whose career is tanking. Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf is currently streaming on Tubi, Crackle, Fubo, Freevee, and Amazon Prime and Video On Demand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGTJ4Cv5ktE Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Drawing inspiration from Southern roots < Back Electric Age: Reinventing Sludge Rock with No Rules Nicole Brice May 16, 2023 Share Drawing inspiration from Southern roots Southern rock is distinct and heavy. Southern rock also has soul and can be very melodic at times and that is exactly where the music of Electric Age fits in. Formed in 2011, Electric Age is a southern sludge rock band out of Louisiana comprised of local music mainstay, Jason Ogle on bass, Shawn Tucker on guitar and vocals, and Kelly Davis on drums. With influences such as Corrosion of Conformity, Black Sabbath, Pantera, and Led Zeppelin these guys are forging their own path in the oversaturated music scene with their nonconformist approach to making music on their own terms. Paying attention to the artistry of the music rather than making tunes that are catchy, Electric Age’s songwriting approach is a refreshing nod in an industry full of prefabrication. credit: Gary Governale With prior projects such as Execution, Guilt Trip, and Slaves of Freedom, Electric Age’s Jason Ogle adds a veteran touch to the band on bass. Vocalist Shawn Tucker’s previous projects include Soul Erosion and Black Market Halos and his southern rock vocals show hints of influence from Dax Riggs amongst other notable southern vocalists. Kelly Davis’ savage skills on the kit round it all out and brings the sound full circle. The band has released three albums, Sleep of the Silent King (2016), Live at the House of Blues – Nola – EP (2017), and Painter of Saints (2022) with all being heavy, melodic, and just plain incredible. credit: Gary Governale - the band performing at Chelsea's Live in Baton Rouge May 6, 2023 Getting ready to begin work on their third album, I recently had the pleasure of taking these gentlemen to breakfast where we sat down and chatted about anything and everything. Personality, precision, and sheer talent are what makes the music of Electric Age so enjoyable, so sit back and dive into this entertaining conversation and then be sure to go stream all their music. MaM : Thank you for sitting down with me today. I was listening to your music on iTunes, because I’m an Apple girl and prefer it to Spotify and have a few notes I’d like to share with you about it. “The Threshold” – love it, “Priestess- Part 1” – wow, amazing! EA : ::in agreement:: Yeah, that’s all Shawn. MaM : Painter of Saints, the song = could be a soundtrack for WWE Monday Night Raw or an action film. Painter of Saints - released February 11, 2022 EA : (laughter) MaM : I’m a wrestling fan, so that’s why that popped into my brain. (laughs) Shawn : We’ll take it. MaM : Seriously, though, that song is so action packed, I could see it being on a soundtrack. Oh, and “Soothsayer” – ripping off Kashmir a little bit? (laughs) Jason and Shawn : We called it “Kashmir” when we were writing it. (laughs) Shawn : You don’t hear that too much. Just people straight ripping off “Kashmir”. MaM : My husband was sitting next to me and goes, “Are you listening to Zeppelin?” EA : (laughter) MaM : …and I go, “Noooo”. He goes, “Why does that sound like ‘Kashmir’?” and I pulled up the actual song and did the comparison and was like, “Holy crap”. Shawn : Yeah Jason : We talked about doing it. We were like, “You know what?”. Shawn : Yeah, you don’t hear too many other people using those chords. That’s why it’s so recognizable. Kelly : The white board in the room during recording, on it the song was called “Kashmir”. MaM : What was the inspiration behind having a song that sounds so close to the original? As far as the riff…I mean, it does, but it doesn’t. It’s that riff. Shawn : We didn’t really think too much about it, honestly, we had the riff and were just like, alright. Jason : We didn’t really make a decision like “ok, we know it sounds like that”, but we do love Led Zeppelin, so why not do it? credit: Gary Governale - Jason Ogle MaM : Well, yeah, of course. It’s a tribute to a legendary band. Shawn : We do a lot more power chording than Zeppelin ever did in that song. MaM : Also, the production sounds great. Who mixed it? Jason : I did all the mixing, but I didn’t mix the first album. MaM : You guys are a solid rock band that is hypnotizing in moments because of your breakdowns in songs. EA : Thanks credit: Gary Governale - Shawn Tucker MaM : COC with soulful vocals, too. I hear the Corrosion influence a good bit, which is awesome. You don’t ever hear people saying Corrosion is such a powerful influence on them with their sound. Jason : Oh yeah, definitely for us. MaM : I used to be obsessed with Pepper Keenan in high school. Don’t ask me why, though. (laughs) Jason : Most reviews we’ve gotten have been COC, Thin Lizzy. Shawn : Down, of course, too. It’s in the water, you can’t get away from it honestly. MaM : Well, yeah, it’s all part of the whole southern metal scene and culture. Shawn, your vocals are incredible, and you have such a soulful voice. Kelly : I tell him daily. (laughs) Shawn : Thank you. Jason : The first record was his first-time doing lead vocals. MaM : Really? Shawn : Yeah, I didn’t start singing until 12 years ago. credit: Gary Governale - Shawn Tucker MaM : So, have you had any formal vocal training, Shawn? Shawn : Well, I’d sing in the room, but no not really. One day I just started picking up the acoustic guitar and started singing. And then I practiced for two years straight before I ever did anything. MaM : Origins of the band. How did the band form? Jason : It’s a funny story. Kelly : It’s one of those stories where we all say, “We’ve got to get together and jam”. We ran into each other at a Slayer concert, and we actually did get together and jam. credit: Gary Governale - Kelly Davis MaM : So, you all already knew each other? Jason : I called Shawn and said, “Man, I really want to go see this show.” And it was Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth. MaM : What year was this? Jason : 2010? 12? We’ve been together 10 years now, but Shawn was kind of hesitant to go, but he rides with me, and I hadn’t seen or talked to Kelly in years. We had gone to high school together, but anyway, we’re in the beer line and that’s when we saw each other and thankfully, The Facebook is how I found you. MaM : I love how you call it “The” Facebook. (laughs) Kelly : Everybody always says, “We should get together”, but we actually did it. Shawn : Well, you started jamming together first ::looks at Kelly::. Jason : Yeah, we started jamming and actually Matt Dupre of Big Frank. MaM : I know Matt, I went to high school with him. Jason : Yeah, he goes, get Tucker to sing and I was like, “Man, he’s not gonna do it” and then you said… ::looks at Shawn:: Shawn : I’ll do it with a guitar in my hand. credit: Gary Governale MaM : And that’s just how it came to be. Jason : Cause I wanted to be the guitar player and I got kicked back to bass. MaM : You got kicked back to bass, so you don’t enjoy being a bass player? Jason : I didn’t at the time. MaM : Well, what about now? Jason : Well, now I do. It’s kind of like a ZZ Top type of metal thing. It’s a 3-piece. MaM : Well, and then the beards. (Kelly and Shawn have similar beards) Kelly : (laughs) credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, last release was just in February 2022, but as far as new music…what’s the direction for the band going forward? Jason : The first record was written as a concept record because Shawn had this vision and it was a big undertaking to make the first album, and it’s over an hour long and some of it was written with me on guitar. The second record sounds more like what we sound like now. On the first record, we hadn’t played a lot of shows and the third record will sound more like the second. MaM : So, would you say the second record defined your sound? Jason : Definitely. The 3-piece sound. The first record is so orchestrated. Some of the songs on the first record we can’t even play live, so we just don’t. Because they’re too complicated. We just can’t with 3 people. It was a concept record, so we didn’t hold back. We weren’t worried about whether we could play it live. When we do albums, we have album tracks. We know certain songs we can’t do live, but we don’t care. We’re making a piece of art. Kelly : It’s got keyboards, tambourine. Jason : Dog whistle? MaM : Cowbell? EA : More cowbell, please? (laughs) Jason : We have not used a cowbell yet. We’ve used beer bottles once. Shawn : Yeah, that was a failure. Jason : And the guy that made the record said, “Uh, no.” (laughter) credit: Gary Governale MaM : As far as the creative process, how do you come up with songs? Take me through that. Shawn : Different methods. For the first record, I demoed a lot of songs on an acoustic guitar and a little Tascam recorder and that worked, but now, Jason will bring a riff and I’ll bring a riff, or we’ll listen back to a recording of us jamming and then we’ll go over it, but there’s not really no set rules. It just kind of happens. A lot of times, we just write in the moment. While we’re jamming. Spontaneous. Kelly : Yeah, a lot of times, it’s just a free jam session and then we’re like, “What are we doing”? MaM : As far as lyrical inspiration…what inspires your lyrics? Shawn : I guess it’s more poetic and abstract, the way I write. The first album, no one knows what it’s about. That’s kind of a running joke. There’s no real meaning. It’s real ambiguous, but it’s up to anyone to decide what the song is about. Kelly : In fact, that’s what he told me one day. I was like, “Dude, I was listening to ‘Sleep of the Silent King’ and when you say this…what does it mean? “Uh…it’s open to interpretation”, he goes. (laughter) Shawn : That’s the beautiful thing about art, though. You can make it whatever you want. MaM : ::kind of hesitant:: May I ask what the title of the new album is? Shawn & Jason : We don’t know yet. Jason : Yeah, we have no idea. Shawn : We’re not done writing songs yet. We have quite a few written, but they just haven’t been working. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, when are we expecting a completion date? Jason : We actually just signed to Argonauta Records again. They released our first record. Label out of Italy and they are going to take care of distributing it. We don’t want to rush the record, though. We’re pretty close, though, and my studio is set up, so we have plenty of time to record it. We’ll knock it out quick, though. MaM : So, you mentioned studio? Tell us a little more about that? So, you built your own studio at your house? Jason : Yeah, pretty much. Volume 10 Studios. I’m doing Branded for Exile’s record right now. I’ll be wrapping that up soon. But I’m fully functional. Ready to be recording bands and I’ve been recording since…I was always the guy that recorded. Whether it was a jambox or a phone, I was the guy putting it in the right spot and all that. MaM : Now, I want to know…of all the shows you guys have played, have there been any funny happenings or stories you could share? Jason : Kelly pissed off Meat Loaf’s daughter. (laughter) Kelly : Oh yeah, I can tell you that one. MaM : Oh, now I have to hear about this one. Kelly : We were playing at the Varsity and I’m stuck unloading everything by myself and I get it all in and then I decide to go sit outside. We’re opening for Anthrax and all of a sudden, a car comes zooming in and they block me in. I’m like “ah, man…what is this” and so I’m boxed in. Suddenly, I see Scott Ian and Meatloaf’s daughter, which is his girlfriend, start walking up to their tour bus. Nowhere am I thinking about this dude being like my high school idol, instead I’m like, “Hey dude, is your car going to stay there all night?” (laughs). Scott Ian, though, super cool goes…”I don’t know, talk to my girlfriend” and he goes in the tour bus and she comes up and says, “Oh, I have to go get the guys some food and I’m going to be in and out all night, but I’m going to be moving it” and so I tell her that I’m going to just get out of her way, right? It’s crazy, though, because there was Scott Ian. So, I tell Jason and Shawn about the story, and they go, “So you cussed out Scott Ian’s wife?” and I said, “No, I just asked her if she was going to move her car” and they’re like, “You were yelling at her, right?”, but the legend is that I cursed her out and there was a confrontation. (laughter) It just sounds cooler. Jason : There was one time they left me at TSA by myself. (laughter) Jason : When you left me at the airport? ::looks at the guys:: I bought an amp I could fly with and so I had the amp in my luggage and I didn’t unload all my electronic devices and when they slid it through the x-ray machine, it looked like a bomb. TSA grabbed me and I looked up and the guys kept walking and just left me. Kelly and Shawn : We didn’t know. (laughter) Shawn : I didn’t know you brought a bomb, bruh. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, memorable shows…are there any shows that are memorable you have played? EA : Anthrax…Crowbar and Goatwhore at the House of Blues. Shawn : Oh, and the Acid Bath benefit show at Twist of Lime after the flood. MaM : What was this benefit show? I must have missed this. Shawn : It was a benefit show after the flood of 2016 and Jason played bass in Acid Bath with the original members and Ben Michon filled in for Sammy, because he was on tour. Jason : We played a set, though, but they had these jam sessions, too with everyone. It was fun. MaM : I can’t believe I missed that. So, as far as bands you have not played with, but would like to…who are they? Jason : I know of one. COC. MaM : COC comes here a good bit, too. Jason : We had King’s X. Shawn : Yeah, we were gonna play with King’s X except COVID got us. MaM : I remember King’s X was going to be at The Varsity. Shawn : Yeah, we were on that show. credit: Gary Governale MaM : As far as the state of local music now vs then, do you think things have changed for the better or worse? Of course, things are different post COVID, but things are starting to look up. Jason : It’s worse. The all ages shows, I mean…I don’t understand why they don’t have all ages shows like they used to. We used to have them all the time. I don’t see any bands doing that anymore. All you have to do is go rent a civic center. There’s really no venue, though, for the all ages shows…I mean, Mid City ballroom, but… MaM : So as far as aspirations for the future, where do you guys see the band headed? Jason : I think we all agree that we’re comfortable right where we are…writing records and putting out music. We like to play shows, but we just kind of pick what we want to play. With no pressure, it’s fun. Shawn : Yeah, it’s just about creating at this point. MaM : Any parting words or anything else we can let our readers know about you? Shawn : We’re just out here having fun and if people like what we’re doing, that’s an added benefit. Kelly : We’re just good friends. Jason : Yeah, we’re not just a band, we’re a family. - To experience all that is Electric Age, be sure to hop on over to their Spotify and then download their tunes via Apple Music. Be sure to check them out on social media, too, and give them a like and follow. Electric Age (facebook.com) Jason Ogle (@electric_age) • Instagram photos and videos Electric Age (bandcamp.com) Electric Age | Spotify ‎Electric Age on Apple Music Argonauta Records - YouTube *Cover photo courtesy of Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Indie-rock duo Perry A releases two singles from upcoming EP “OK Wait” boasting a dark sound and heavy political inspiration. < Back Perry A: Just Two Guys Making Music Keeley Brooks & Nicole Brice Dec 6, 2023 Share Indie-rock duo Perry A releases two singles from upcoming EP “OK Wait” boasting a dark sound and heavy political inspiration. Gen Xers (like me and Nicole) love to hear modern music reminiscent of one of the best decades for music: the 90s . It was a turning point in music history, seeing the emergence of new genres like industrial, grunge, emo, and alternative rock that were eventually overshadowed by technology. Enter Perry A, a southern-based, two-man band working to combine the best of the best of the 90s in their upcoming EP “OK Wait”. Perry A is an indie-rock duo out of New Orleans, Louisiana, who brings to mind bands like Cracker and The Screaming Trees, except their music is of a darker sound and is heavily politically inspired. Perry A is comprised of “two neighbors in a home studio" making music, and they are C.G. Smith (acoustic guitar, drum programming, bass, synth, and vocals) and J. Pitre (lead guitar, harmonica, and creepy vocals). It’s been a busy year writing, recording, and releasing for Perry A, who have been working on their forthcoming EP “OK Wait”. May 2023 saw the release of their first single, “ Opinion ”, and the guys recently released their second single, "Fiction". “Opinion” is a mellow alt-rock tune with explosive choruses and just the right amount of fuzz, also featuring a lot of political opinion. “Fiction” is darker in tone and stands out due to its bad-ass harmonica playing paired with Pitre’s creepy vocals. Their third single, “Sorrowful Days”, releases at the end of this year. Mixed Alternative had a chance to rap with Perry A about their inception, what influences their sound, and what kind of mirages appear on their horizon. Check out our conversation below--these guys are super fun! MaM : Guys, thanks for talking with us today; it’s nice to have you. Would you tell us a little about the inspiration behind Perry A and how the name developed. CGS : Well, when my wife and I moved back Uptown from the Irish Channel in February 2022, we moved to a place on Perrier St. Shortly after moving in and getting my humble Hearwaxx Studio set up there, I met my neighbor, JP, and we hit it off over both being songwriters. JP & CG (credit: Chad Besse) The name is part genius and part lazy. I’d heard people pronounce the street we live on like ‘carrier’ (and also like the sparkling water), so I said we should call our little project Perry A. (laughter) We’ve also kicked around the idea of a mysterious figure who seems to be involved in the inner workings of politics being called Perry A, but right now it’s just a play on the street we live on. There’s actually a song with the title ‘Perry A’ that is going to be amazing when we get it done, but that will probably be on the second release. I originally envisioned [it] as something like the ‘Dessert Sessions’ albums, where Queens of the Stone Age leader Josh Homme had a rotating cast of musicians and friends come make music, but baby steps! JP : [Our band name] is simple, not profound as far as I know. Band names are fun though. There are bands like Oasis and Hootie and the Blowfish. Where did those names come from? Who is Hootie? If you know, please tell me! MaM : Perry A just saw its second release with “Fiction" from your forthcoming EP “OK Wait”. Give us some insight on both. CGS : The first [release] from ‘OK Wait’ was a song called ‘Opinion’ that we released back in May of 2023. [It] was music that JP wrote, and I put lyrics and vocals to. [It holds a lot of our political opinion]. ‘Fiction’ is a song I had been working on for a while and it finally culminated once Perry A was born. It has lyrical themes of the separation of Americans since MAGA, as well as the use of religion to drive wedges instead of bringing people together. JP’s solos are madness and I love it. He also did the harmonica and most of the creepy voices in the track. Click image to listen to "Fiction" by Perry A. ‘OK Wait’ was originally an inside joke. JP says it all the time when we are working on playing/arranging a new song, but it also seems like a fitting phrase for political change in this country to me. There will be a track on the album with that title as well. MaM : When do you plan to release “OK Wait”? CGS : Good question. … It’s really tough to get much done with the limited time we both have, but I’m learning more and more about being a producer. I record, mix, and master everything myself and it can be slow-going, [but] we HOPE to have the Perry A ‘OK Wait’ EP out in early 2024. MaM : Talk a little about doing everything yourself. How has having your own studio to do all this in changed your process as a recording musician? CGS : Well, it’s nice to have everything in my house, but again, JP and I both have a 9-to-5 and family, so just because the studio is right there doesn’t mean we are working on music 24/7. … I honestly had given up making music for a long time—well over a decade—but during the [lockdown] in the height of the pandemic in 2020, I dusted off my acoustic and wrote songs. Then I decided to record an album. credit: Chad Besse I ended up getting some affordable mics, a budget interface, and software and watched a lot of YouTube videos to teach myself how to produce. I’m still learning every time I sit down at my workstation. I’m sure there are glaring errors that pros can pick apart in my productions still, but I’m getting better! Overall, it is nice to have the space set up in my home, and JP right next door, but there is never enough time in a day, or week, or year when you have other responsibilities. (laughter) MaM : What are y’all’s instruments, and what are your favorites to play? CGS : I play guitar, sing, and dabble in keyboards and synths. I’m learning bass, and I am getting better at programming drums since we don’t have a real drummer. Oh, I also have an old, used Boomba (look it up) that was my wife’s grandmother’s. … That was fun to play around with. My favorite will probably always be acoustic guitar just because that’s what I’ve known for so long. JP : I play mostly guitar and bass. I do keys and vocals. I like to do falsetto and baritone on recordings. I like to add layers of vocals and guitar parts and keys and make harmonies and blend everything together to create a soundscape. I would say I don’t have a favorite instrument. My favorite thing is to create and just keep creating. It’s all about patterns and unpredictable ideas. I don’t always adhere to the typical song structure you hear in most music. credit: Chad Besse MaM : What inspires you guys musically? CGS : (in a Jack Black voice) The search for inspirado! (laughter) I’m inspired by many things. Life is full of inspiration if you just take the time to see it. I’d say for Perry A, the inspiration has definitely come from watching the GOP and MAGA traitors attempting to destroy the progress America has made over the years. My wife, my friends, and my family all inspire me to be a better person every day. JP : What inspires me musically? Well, usually it’s the pain of life. Some of the songs I’ve written come from tragic experiences. Music is something I don’t always care about, to be honest. I sometimes feel like my motive is to use music to heal pain. Being human isn’t easy for anyone. I don’t care who you are or what your social media looks like, we all wear masks, and everyone is a little crazy. Some people are just not interested in exploring the darker aspects of human nature. I think it’s important to make art and be authentic. MaM : Any live performances on the horizon? CGS : Ha! JP keeps saying we need to do more practicing and get an acoustic three-song set so we can go do open mics, but I’ve always been much more comfortable in a studio setting than live on a stage. … Right now, it is just a home-studio-production type of outlet for us. JP : We may never play live and that’s ok. I think we are like those old guys who are trapped in a different era. I love the 90s. Music today is all the same to me. Lady Gaga, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Billy eyelids. If we play live, I pray we don’t f*ck up. I know CG will be mortified, and I will be mortified about him feeling those powerful emotions. I don’t really know how much people care about music these days. It’s 2023. What do people want? They wanna stare at the phone and watch YouTube or porn. Why would they care about Perry A? I wouldn’t mind playing live, but I enjoy just the process of creating music. Music is the way we decorate time. See, that’s deep. But how could anyone ever appreciate the music if they’re too busy watching Nikki Minaj twerk and say stuff about her WAP? credit: Chad Besse MaM : Last question: What are you guys watching at the moment? CGS : I’m currently obsessed with Kane Pixels’ Backrooms . They are a collection of fictional YouTube short videos that delve into anomalies brought on by a corporation’s scientific experiment gone wrong. This kid was 16 when he wrote and produced these amazing videos, and he is now making a movie with A24 based on them. Besides that, my wife and I are currently enjoying watching new seasons of Apple TV’s The Morning Show , Netflix’s Sex Education , and our guilty pleasure CBS’ (formerly MTV’s) The Challenge , although more and more of our long-time favorite competitors are retiring and these new challengers just aren’t the same. (chuckles) JP : I like Black Mirror . I’ve watched a lot of episodes. I really enjoy the tension and nightmare scenarios the characters wind up in. Have you ever gone to Canal Place? You know that parking garage? It has an exit that winds over and over like you’re going in circles. I imagine that happening forever and that’s what hell is probably like. Or maybe hearing Tiny Tim sing the same song over and over forever. Black Mirror is sort of like that kind terror—the terror you can’t escape from. I also like that show 90-Day Fiancé . That is disturbing and suspenseful as well. And there you have it, folks. Just two guys in a home studio making music, doing the best they can with “limited knowledge of production techniques,” hoping “people like the songs, even with their technical shortcomings.” Check out Perry A’s singles, “Opinion” and “Fiction”, at any of their links below, and be sure to catch their newest single, “Sorrowful Days”, when it drops at the end of the month! For all things Perry A: Perry A Online Perry A | Instagram Perry A | Bandcamp Perry A | Spotify Perry A | Apple Music Perry A | Soundcloud *cover photo credit: Chad Besse cmdbphotography.myportfolio.com chad besse www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Leaning Studios is a budget-friendly premium recording studio. < Back Inside Leaning Studios: The Studio Amplifying Louisiana’s Alternative Voices Nick Cline May 26, 2026 Share Leaning Studios is a budget-friendly premium recording studio. Connections are the lifeline to success, and the music world is built on connections. These connections can run as deep as business ventures or as face value as social interactions. Regardless, the connections we make as creatives are the backbone of our success and evolving path forward. The music world is constantly evolving and always looking for the next big thing. The next big thing could be the local band in the dive bar in the middle of nowhere, and, at the end of the day, we have no idea until it happens. The amount of great music lost to the storm of modern business models, financial strife, and other such forces is growing every day. The modern artist relies on connections to become a content creator, booker, manager, and more, all at the same time. This is the hurdle where Leaning Studios steps in. Based in Watson, Louisiana , Leaning Studios is a budget-friendly premium recording studio run by Nick Maggio . The backbone of Leaning Studios is an artist-first approach to studio time. Maggio sees the artist as the boss and himself as a worker. He offers studio criticism when needed, but the artist's authenticity is the most important principle. Leaning Studios in Watson, LA With a more barebones approach to recording, Maggio locks the artist into a mindset of repetition, artistic endeavor, and working within limitations to give the most authentic version of themselves in the studio. This bare-bones approach, paired with the professional design of the sessions, allows the artist to lock themselves in a room and bring their best foot forward in creating their music for less than the competition. Nick Maggio of Leaning Studios in Watson, LA Another major accomplishment of Leaning Studios is the atmosphere. It doesn't feel like a session. It feels like a friendship. The artist can come in and focus on the creative process without overhead and egos. The artist can rely on the engineer to offer insight into the process, which, at the end of the day, allows the creative process to be both streamlined and pure to the individual. Leaning Studios gives back to the community by offering discounts on their already budget-friendly prices. These discounts are available on the website, through in-person offers, and as limited-time promotions. All of these things together help advance the mission of providing the scene and its community with easy access to premium recording opportunities without costing an arm and a leg. In this ever-changing creative world, the opportunity to record and produce music at a friendly rate is important to staying relevant and producing quality content. Owner Nick Maggio said of his goals for the studio, “ I made Leaning Studios to be more than just another recording room. The goal is to give new and current local artists and bands a real studio experience. Every band is as unique as a fingerprint, and that’s what Leaning Studios is all about. My interest here is simple. Why not bring new Louisiana artists or a band's vision to life and work to build a better, more together music scene, and do it cheaply, as we move through a world too caught up in trends, and copy-paste template thinking patterns .” Leaning Studios is constantly evolving to stay in touch with the community and the world around it. It will offer a variety of services to be announced in the near future. These announcements will expand the recording experience into multiple endeavors that will help the artist and the community evolve. Leaning Studios in Watson, LA With everything that has been said, I want to leave everyone with one more statement. Leaning Studios is a premium, friendly environment that helps artists become themselves in the studio. It adheres to the artist, and it will fold the professional and artistic process to the will of the creation. These foundations and processes provide Leaning Studios with a pathway to helping the artist become their true selves without the worry of ego, financial strife, or anything in between. I highly recommend looking into Leaning Studios. They are a service-based entity that won't disappoint. List of artists recorded at Leaning Studios: ● Kris Russ ● Goodbye Academy ● Phantum Sun ● Jean Claude Seagal ● Pink Tooth ● Ghost Prism And more... For future announcements, session bookings, and more, look into the Leaning Studios Facebook, Instagram, and website. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DG9s2t1Bi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leaningstudios?igsh=cWFrMHRrdjdraWU= Website: Leaningstudios.com Anyone who reads this article can get a 15% discount on sessions on the website by entering CLINE15 in the contact form. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com mixedalternativemag@gmail.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

STS infuses their music with a down-to-earth sensibility, blending the raw power of classic punk rock with intricate pop melodies and compelling lyrics. < Back Unveiling Small Town SINdrome: The Band, The Name, and The Music Erica Machen Nov 9, 2023 Share STS infuses their music with a down-to-earth sensibility, blending the raw power of classic punk rock with intricate pop melodies and compelling lyrics. Small Town SINdrome, also known as STS, is a notable alternative rock band hailing from Grand Rapids, Minnesota. STS has rapidly gained attention with their distinctive sound, as their music seamlessly blends the raw power of classic punk rock with intricate pop melodies and compelling lyrics . STS offers unique listening experience that resounds heavily with fans. Established in 2018, this three-piece band consists of Brian Gandy, a charismatic vocalist and guitarist; Adam Mahoney, the rhythmic section of the band on drums; and John Hakala, vocalist and bass guitar virtuoso. The name "Small Town SINdrome" itself draws inspiration from the small-town-ness of Grand Rapids. Despite Brian and Adam's roots in larger cities, the band has embraced the small-town mindset and ethos, infusing their music with a down-to-earth sensibility. Some may even pick up on a bit of garage band vibes. STS explores a rich array of emotions and themes in their music, forging a deep and energizing connection with their audience. From writing jam-worthy songs when freestyling together to electrifying live performances, Small Town SINdrome is on a path to become a major force in the world of alternative rock. STS has themselves poised for a tremendous journey in the world of music, sharing their authentic stories, talent, and energy with us all. Photo provided by artist. MaM : Guys, thanks so much for rapping with us today. Let’s jump right in with some of those broken-record questions: With a name as unique as Small Town SINdrome, there has to be a story. Please enlighten us how the band name came about! BG : We spent nights sitting around trying to figure out what the hell our name was going to be, because there is a lack of available names. We even went so far as to use a band name generator online. It was funny because everything we came up with sounded really cool. Then, Google would say someone in Portugal has got the name. John actually came up with it because we're here in a small town. With the small-town mentality and that sort of thing, we thought, that's kind of a cool idea. We flipped from Syndrome to SINdrome and nobody has sued us yet. MaM : Can you share a bit about how you all came together as a band? I understand that Brian and Adam have a family connection, but what led to recruiting John as the bass player? BG : We don’t talk about that publicly. (Laughs) No, Adam is officially my stepson, but he's more like my little brother. John, I look at him as my other little brother. We’re a family, a three-piece family. JH : Adam and I were living with a buddy, and Brian would come jam with him. They’d try to get me to play, but I would run and hide in my room. They finally wore me down and liked it. We started writing together, and it was just really easy. We all fit together. It’s still easy. We start jamming and that’s when the good stuff comes out. MaM : When listening to your music, I hear a mix of alt-rock, punk, and even some classic rock with a garage band vibe. How do you describe your genre, and how does your diversity play into shaping your sound? BG : You’re absolutely right in hearing all of that in our music. When we write a song, we don't necessarily say we're going to write a specific type of the song. Like John said, we just start jamming, and we go with it. Then we have songs that could be a little punk rock, pop-punk, alt rock, or could be a little classic rock. We all share a lot of the same influence, but, then again, we also have a lot of very different influences. JH : We might be jamming and listening to different bands separately from each other through the week, but then we come together and it’s a totally different style from what we’ve been doing. It really depends on what we're all listening to, what kind of moods we're in, and what's going on. We come to practice, just let it out, and see what happens. BG : I'm the Smashing Pumpkins/Nirvana wing of the band. It's funny. John came to practice a few weeks back with a bass riff and we started playing on it. It sounded really good, but it was so Smashing Pumpkins. For the next week to two weeks, I couldn't write or think of anything else … I kind of get pulled in by that. MaM : It's clear that your music appeals to a broad audience. How do you navigate such a diverse range of listeners and expectations? BG : We get feedback, and people do say different things. Really, we want everybody to like everything we do, but there's also the reality that some people are going to like this, some people are going to like that. That’s why we want to be as diverse as we can with our music, with the understanding that what some may like may not be what someone else likes. We want to try to reach as many people as we can. Back in February, we released the first cover we've ever done: ‘Blister in the Sun’ by Violent Femmes. I tell the story because it's so true that this is the one song of ours that no matter what genre people are into or what age demographic, people love it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCfSAaSdJEQ MaM : With such an eclectic reach, I’ve no doubt the journey has been filled with interesting moments. Could you elaborate on the highs and lows you've experienced along the way? (Lots of laughter between the band.) AM : This may be a little off topic, but I just have to … About two weeks ago, John left practice about two minutes before I did, and he hid in the dark. He was going to jump out and scare the shit out of me, but he ended up tripping over a fire pit and breaking his femur. He’s never even broken a bone before. Two weeks later, and we just had our first practice today. When you asked about highs and lows … I’d say that this dude is in a pretty low one right now. We have a lot of cool music times too, though. As for highs and lows, there’s a lot of ‘em. In September, we did do the coolest show of our lives. We played at Rocklahoma with a bunch of bad-ass bands. So, yeah, a lot of cool music moments too, but the broken leg is most recent. MaM : Regarding Rocklahoma, tell me more about the impact the band felt playing alongside legendary acts like Pantera, Rob Zombie, and Limp Bizkit? BG : As Adam said, it was the high point so far … not just for us being able to be on a stage in front of people at that venue, but just being able to see some of the bands we've always admired. The other highlight was the ability to be able to be backstage and kind of go where we want. I think we'd all agree. You aren’t often able to share a bill with, you know, the Chris Daughtrys of the world and Eddie Van Halen's kid. Until we got on that stage, I was thinking somebody was going to call us and say, 'Whoops, we made a mistake. We meant the other Small Town Syndrome with the I.' … [It] was a fun time for sure. MaM : I see that you recently released a new single, "Matches to Ashes". How have your fans been reacting to your latest track? BG : Pretty positive. It was kind of a weird year for us as far as releasing music. We had some festivals and things we did over the summer with the goal to get to Oklahoma. We really wanted to release at least a couple of songs during 2023. That's why we put “Matches to Ashes” out there when we did. It’s definitely one we all enjoy playing, and it's been well received when we have gotten to play it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ_cA90IErA MaM : Here comes my quirky question: What came first, the chicken or the egg? BG : Hmm, I don’t have a strong opinion either way. If I have to pick between the two, I’m going to go chicken. AM : Chicken. JH : Then I’m going to have to go egg. MaM : Honestly, I wanted to get you thinking so I could ask about your writing process. What comes first, the lyrics or the instrumentals? AM : It can be different. I think it's like that with a lot of bands, but not everyone can do it. Sometimes Brian will have pretty much a whole song already down on guitar with some lyrics. He'll come to us with it, and we'll fill it in. We piece it together. John has done it too, but then there's times we'll just get in the room and within 20 minutes have a super song from freestyling. MaM : As a band, where do you see yourselves in the next five years? Any particular goals or aspirations you'd like to share with your fans? BG : From my perspective, Dave Grohl said it perfectly. He did an interview a few years back and said something to the effect of if you do this just for the love of music and nothing else, with no illusion of winning American Idol or The Voice or something, you’ve already won. Obviously, bands want to make a career out of this and sustain without having to work multiple jobs, but I think that’s really it for me. We definitely want to keep creating and pushing ourselves to improve as a band and as individual musicians. Rocklahoma was a big bucket list thing, but now it’s not enough. Once you have a taste of that, you say ‘Ok, now what?’ We are looking at touring next year and making a stop in the UK. That’s another big bucket list item for us. And, of course, back to the music, it's just finding those bigger stages and keeping that rolling. I should say this too—Erica, you're kind of getting a scoop on this: We haven't said this publicly, but we will have an album coming out tentatively on February 1st. It’s totally unreleased music we have done and some new stuff we're working on. MaM : That’s excellent! We’re happy to share that news! What should we be looking for next from STS? BG : We want to play in a lot of places in 2024 that we've not played. We want to see as many people at our shows as we can, and we want to be able to meet a lot of people. We're going to work on getting to different corners of the world and see some new stages. As I said earlier, the immediate goal is to get the new music out and into everybody’s ears. JH : I think pretty similar to Brian. Get out, play a lot of shows, heal my leg, and get back to jumping and messing around. I love playing live, feeling that energy, and feeding off of it. That's my goal: just get back out there. AM : Same. I mean, put some new music out there, write some new stuff, and play some play some dope shows with some bad-ass crowds. While we anticipate the new sounds from Small Town SINdrome coming in February 2024, check out what they currently have to offer by visiting them online at www.SmallTownSindrome.com . Erica Machen is a beast when it comes to consuming, writing about, and reviewing music. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

An intimate conversation < Back Vinnie La Bella David Trahan Apr 28, 2023 Share An intimate conversation To be painfully honest, excess seemed to be the goal of my life while growing up; the most booze, the most parties, the most drugs, the most women. Slowly, my life began to become the locust swarm. I existed to consume and move on, until I was satiated or unconscious. But somewhere along the way, my quest for quantity gave way to quality. Upon reflection, my past had become a misguided detour. And all those allies who shared in my crusade, liars. I began cutting people out in pursuit of the answers to unending questions. Who am I? What do I want out of life? Why are the things that I want and the things that I truly need always at odds? Looking back, although traumatic in nature, I believe this to be an integral part of growing up; maturation at its essence. Through our talks, I believe this to be the crux of Vinnie La Bella. But Vinnie La Bella consumed for a reason that would land him on stages in front of hundreds of thousands. He moved for what was to be an organism that would usher him around the globe. The desire, the intensity, and the results would maturate rewards and costs of epidemic proportions, leaving physical and moral values lying in limbo. Vinnie grew up in University City, a small neighborhood in Kenner, Louisiana bordering several suburbs and one veritable marshland. His father was a singer in a cover band that played mostly top 40 hits of the time. Being around musicians as far back as he can remember, the set-ups for practice, the camaraderie, and the grown banter were some of the appeals that drew him in. He can recall his father bringing home the Fandango! album by ZZ Top to learn a song and falling in love with that album. Between sneaking playtime with the guitar of his father’s bandmate, and classes in jazz theory, his love for guitar was solidified as early as eight years old. By the time he was eleven, he had learned enough to feel comfortable on the thing. It started to occur to him that this was something he could actually do for a living, perhaps in part, because of his father’s influence. But the mechanics of play had definitely become more familiar with time. And in time, nothing would move him more. His parents divorced when he was fourteen. And by age fifteen he was living with his mother on Hessemer Avenue in Fat City. Up until this point, guitar had helped to solidify a foundation between him and his father. So, to hear him tell it, his parents’ parting of ways didn’t really bother him. But he did, however, take advantage of his new digs. In the 80’s, Fat City was still a bustling neighborhood full of bars with live music. And at fifteen, Vinnie was beginning to establish roots of his own. Fat City would serve as a fertile medium to facilitate his growth; both as a young man and a budding musician. For all intents and purposes, Vinnie was a loner. With just enough people he called “friends” counted on one hand, he was resolved to explore the world on his own. This translated into a person that possibly grew up too quick. He would quit school early to become a hustler, and admits he may have squandered opportunities. A reckless lifestyle would prove a comfortable place for him to exist. And those who were there know Fat City could give you all you could eat. From where he lived with his mother, 17th Street was just a two-minute walk. “Now the walks to the bar were always nice and clean. The walks back got interesting. You know, I woke up in a few alleys along the way, ten o’clock the next morning. But that was the stomping ground”. Though stumbling at times through life, he always seemed to fall in the right direction. And even his vices would prove of value. Fat City is where he met Kirk Windstein (Crowbar). It’s where he met Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual, Necrophagia, etc). It’s where he met Andy Villafarra and David Main, with whom he would go on to form Exhorder. Fat City is where he played his first show in a cover band called Sabotage. And it also served as the place where he would draw a line in the sand. But before his own assertions, he would need confirmation elsewhere; confirmation that his suspicions were correct. Speaking strictly from personal perspective I can tell you that there’s always been a voice inside my head. Maybe not so much a voice; it’s more like an inaudible message center. We’re all born with it in fact. In some, it’s just louder than in others. In our latter years, we learn of it to be the Id. It’s a part of the psyche, residing in the unconscious, that is the source of instinctive impulses. It wants nothing more than to be satisfied but is constantly modified by the ego and the superego before being given overt expression. It provides all of the energy for, and is the driving force of, personality. Unto itself, it has no organization. Being guided by his vices, seemingly falling in the right direction at times when his Ego or Superego would shine through, brought Vinnie to a defining moment in his life. Through this guiding force, Vinnie would often find himself venturing outside of the microcosm that was Fat City. One of those destinations was uptown New Orleans where hardcore and punk were prominent. This was a breeding ground for those that shunned society and smeared the edge. Sonic exploration was not only prominent. Here it was a prerequisite which fed Vinnie’s Id. “I remember walking out there for the first time, like, going to Jed’s. It was on like, Oak Street or Maple; right down the street from Jimmy’s Music Club. And that’s where they would have the punk and hardcore activity weekends. That was basically where we would all go. So, Circle Jerks played, Black Flag, I got to see all them bands… Dead Kennedys. And we would go over there and start hanging over there and noticing woah, this is a totally different world. Not only musically but, you don’t play cover songs out here. No band gets up there and plays a Black Flag song. You would probably get tomatoes thrown at you. You had to be an original thing offering something to the scene, being part of the culture, and growing”. This confirmed to him that the scene in Metairie really had grown stale. Metairie had the Ratts and the Poisons of cover bands. It had mostly become a hairspray haven where leotard clad man boys were chasing a path that had already been, by now, cliched. Punk and hardcore influenced thrash in metal. And cover bands influenced… nothing. On campus at Tulane University is a radio station, WTUL. And back then, on the weekends, it would host a metal night one evening and a hardcore night on the other. Vinnie would also venture out there to a basement where the radio station was housed, bearing any goodies he may have procured throughout the evening. Two brothers were DJs. And together with Vinnie and friends they would pass around records, discussing them and giving them a spin. These uptown experiences, at the radio station and at live shows, were the building blocks upon which Vinnie’s own first band was founded. It would be the Id, his Id, incarnate. It would be proof positive that a dissention from what had become the norm of his environment was not only in order. It was necessary to avoid furthering apparent necrosing. Things would come to a head one evening in the dressing room before a performance with his first band, ironically named, Sabotage. “I was basically given an ultimatum in that band. I was in the dressing room. We were about to play a show and I was thrown some garments. ‘Here, wear these tonight’. And when I looked at these garments I was like, I can’t go out there like this. And he said ‘well you have to or you’re out this band’. And I said well, I’ll be out this band then… tonight mother fucker. ‘Aight, aight well you don’t have to wear that’. So, that was the last show I played with them”. This wasn’t at all about cover bands. Vinnie respected cover bands. His father was in a cover band. At one time, he even subbed guitar for a cover band when he was asked to bail out a friend in need. He was handed a list of one hundred and fifty songs to learn with two weeks to learn them. But again, having seen what the hardcore scene was like, and knowing it was more the direction he wanted to move in, left him with little vested in what things had become. And ever the hustler, he would soon take members of that band with him. Establishing himself in a fishbowl of clones would not prove easy. Though he could see the gateway from his doorstep, anything west of New Orleans was just, not New Orleans. And Fat City was the fishbowl of not New Orleans. To become a deflection in this biosphere meant facing backlash. And staking one’s claim sometimes meant going on the offensive. “I was kind of frowned upon. And it caused a lot of beefs. I was an asshole man. And I would make fun of guys for doing it after a while because they were making fun of me for hanging out with the punks. So, it got to be a lifestyle kind of thing. You know, like I’m willing to whip your ass over this shit. That’s how deep we were into this. If you talked bad about Exhorder in the 80’s, you might not be around today talking about it. I’m serious. We were fucking assholes man”. The same guys that would say you’ll never make a dime doing that or the chicks will never listen to that were the same guys who would eventually break out of this redundant mecca. But latency meant they would have a new band to follow. In retrospect, Vinnie feels as though it would have behooved those people to pivot sooner than later. A lot of great talent was born out of the moment when they finally steered clear of mimicking the hair bands of that bygone era. But at that time, he felt as though he was defending his honor. At any rate, once he left that band and this scene, there was no turning back. Writing for Slaughter in the Vatican would start almost immediately, but with only Vinnie and Andy Villafara, it would be an arduous task. David Main would soon follow suit leaving Sabotage. And the better part of a year would pass while writing and securing a permanent lineup. But throughout it all and no matter what, hardcore music had entranced Vinnie. He would rather die than see himself end up where he was headed. Music and life had become synonymous. And both, in Vinnie’s eyes, were secondary to this alliance. Given his proclivity for extremes and his perception that Exhorder was more like a gang than a band, things would become violent at times. Being that the foundation of this band was forged in contrast to everything out there, opposition could be found everywhere; even within the band itself. “To be honest man, I wasn’t the only lunatic in the band. I mean, these guys were legitimate fuck-ups man. We were all fucking nuts. I got in a fight with my drummer over some bullshit, year one. I kicked his fucking door down. I ended up going to jail and doing community service. So that’s kind of how we started; out of just anger and violence. And we were taking it out on our instruments and just making a hell of a noise musically about it. After that little scuffle with Chris, him, Kyle, and David left”. This would be the first of several partings for Exhorder. And the band was still so new, to themselves as well as everyone else. This occurred in late 1987. Their very first gig was just the year before on Franklin Avenue in 1986. At this point in time, they had yet to finish recording the demos for Slaughter in the Vatican. The process of rebuilding would go on for a year. During that time, Jay Ceravalo (rhythm guitar) would enter the picture. At best, Jay was an aspiring guitarist. But Vinnie saw a bit of himself in Jay; the air of tenacity. So, he made a deal with him. Vinnie affirmed, “Bra, I’ll give you six months. If you can play this shit… and I will help you. I’ll come and show you. I will make you tapes and whatever you need. If you can do this shit you’ve got the job. And that’s when he got rid of his old lady, he quit his job and locked himself in a room. So, at the time it’s just me, Andy, and Jay trying to put some semblance of Exhorder back together”. Through this process, Jay would risk (and lose) most everything. He turned his back on a secure job with the city of Kenner, his parents kicked him out. Above all else, Vinnie recognized the loyalty and dedication and never forgot it. Sid Montz (Victorian Blitz, Crowbar, Valume Nob, Southern Isolation) would come in on drums about this time. But Vinnie still had to find a singer. One day in early 1989, Sid called Vinnie with some news. Vinnie recalls, “This is a good piece of history that I’ve never told anybody. But it’s important to where we land in this later. He (Sid) says listen man I talked to Phil (Anselmo). He’s not happy with his current situation. He wants to do something heavier and he can’t get the guys to get on board. So, he wants to come try out. So, I called him and said try out? There ain’t no fucking try out. You’re Phil. You can do this. You’re bad, you know? You’ve got the gig. Come home. He’s like no no no, I want to do it right. I’m going to fly in and try out. And I’ll come back and we’ll finish it. I said, ok. So, he came down and was as good as you thought he would be. I said I told you. You wasted your plane ticket. You got the gig! So, I put this mother fucker on an airplane right after rehearsal. He’s flying back to Dallas and he’s going home to quit Pantera. Now by this time Power Metal was the last thing they had released. The sound was still… the sound. So anyway, he’s in the air. I drive home from the airport. I walk into the house and the phone is ringing. I pick up the phone, it’s Kyle. I hadn’t heard from this mother fucker in a year. I haven’t seen him. I haven’t talked to him. He goes, hey man I heard you had Phillip in the room. I said what are you talking about? I haven’t talked to you in a year! How’d you know? He says, I wanna come back. I said he’s in the air right now! He’s going home to quit! So, I said dude let me call you back. I hung up the phone. I called up Jay and I said this mother fucker’s calling me. He’s like bro, it’s your call. So, I thought about it for a second, and I did the right thing. I said absolutely Kyle; come on home. We wrote these songs together. You’re the only mother fucker I can envision singing for this thing. I said, you got it. I just need to stop him (Phil) from fucking his own thing up. So, I said let me see what I can do. So, I called over there and Phil wasn’t upset or anything. He was actually pretty happy. He said ‘that’s good news. I’m disappointed because I really wanted to give it a go with you. But, I’m glad he’s back”. With Kyle back, Chris Nail would once again take over on drums. Anselmo would go on to record the famed Cowboys From Hell album with Pantera. And Exhorder would complete Slaughter in the Vatican, getting signed to Roadrunner Records. The what-ifs that ran through my head at this point in the interview came flooding in. But tumultuous times were not behind the band. The signing was merely a piece to a puzzle that was never quite complete. Sure, they had remained in New Orleans, besting the labels turning them down left and right claiming that they needed to get out of New Orleans in order to make it. And one must realize this was the 80’s. This was the Regan era where shoulder pads and rampant consumerism dominated the arena. Even when they were finally signed, their first album came out mischaracterizing them as a ‘brutal thrash band from the depths of the swamp in Louisiana’. Their propensity for violence was getting them thrown off tours. This was no help either. But they knew they were on to something good. And this all would open up the door for many more out the south; a region negated as illegitimate in the world of musical significance. Between inner band tensions and music business complications, by the time The Law was released in 1992, the group was more than worse for wear. Vinnie had a baby. Chris was getting married. None of them could hold one another together or ever align their ways with normative business practices. Passion holds no court with principals. Principals are societally based. And passion is otherworldly. Exhorder would once again disband. Make-ups and break-ups would be scattered throughout the coming years. A turbulent giant would be remitted to a twenty-seven-year recording dormancy. In 2017, through specifics not revealed, Vinnie and Kyle would reunite for the last time, culminating in Exhorder’s 2019 release entitled Mourn the Southern Skies. It would be produced and engineered at OCD Recording & Production by Duane Simineaux under Nuclear Blast, one of the world’s largest independent metal labels. It is by far, in my opinion, the greatest work ever to come from Exhorder. Which at this point housed only two of its founding members. It would also mark the last time Vinnie would ever play with the band he started. “We tried to put it back together a couple of times. This last time the table was set pretty good. We had a good shot and it was working. We ended up in a dispute as usual. And this time the only original guys left were me and Kyle. The dispute was basically between me and him. It was basically over two bullet points that he just couldn’t get past, and I couldn’t get past. And finally, I was like fuck it. Hey if you want it this bad bro, take it. But you’re going to get your wallet out this time. Because a lot of times they leave me sitting there with the bill”. He went on to point out, “It is of my opinion that he, at this particular moment, probably hates my fucking guts. He won’t say it in the media but he probably does. It’s my opinion. I could be wrong. But five years, seven years, eight years from now you know, who knows”. They were maturing in the midst of this all. Their needs changed over time. With only two founding members remaining, what was considered Exhorder had changed as well. “Whenever Exhorder would break up in the past, we would just lay it to rest. Nobody owned the trademark or the copyrights or anything to that name. It just sat there. And it would always sit there until most of us, or all of us, decided to do it again. And it was always home base for us. If we ever wanted to make something of that thing we built when we were kids, it was always there for us. And it started when I said… yes”. Vinnie reflected on the Phil Anselmo story here, citing it as a moment in time that should’ve reinforced a standing precedence for the band. When it came to Kyle’s desires to return, he didn’t mull it over. He simply said yes. But this time, through communications with his lawyer, he was confronted by a standing vote to oust him. The organism would no longer be the sum of its parts. These days, Vinnie remains deeply involved in music. He has established roots in production, and continues with recording and composition. Among his many projects, you will hear his work on Kirk Windstein’s upcoming second solo album, projected to be released possibly this fall. He went on to talk about that experience, as well the many projects that he’s currently involved in. You can hear this info first-hand and the details surrounding his life in music on our podcast by picking your streaming platform of choice below. Please be sure to subscribe, as this keeps our musicians’ names in the wind and gives our show a greater voice. As seen originally on: Neworleansmusicians.com Podcast: https://Neworleansmusicians.Podbean.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@neworleansmusicians Blog: https://Neworleansmusicians.com/blog www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Judas Priest roll into Huntsville, AL with the Invincible Shield Tour. < Back Judas Priest: Probst Arena at Von Braun Center Bud Gambrell May 10, 2024 Share Judas Priest roll into Huntsville, AL with the Invincible Shield Tour. For many concert goers, such as myself, Tuesday, May 7th gave us a chance once again to witness the metal monsters Judas Priest . This concert was a huge accomplishment for me since I have been listening to this amazing band since 1978. As a teenager, I would listen to Stained Class , Hell Bent for Leather and Unleashed in the East in my room as my parents would yell to turn it down. My friends and I got to see Judas Priest Live in the early and mid-80s. For Tuesday's concert, though, I was back as not just a fan, but as a photographer. Being in the pit taking pictures of Rob Halford was an apex moment for me and Judas Priest did not disappoint! All these years later, Rob Halford can still carry every single note high and low. In many cases of rock singers, that does not happen. Rob Halford is still the reigning Metal God. The show was spot on. The band covered songs from every era old and new. They even played three songs from the new album, Invincible Shield . If you haven’t heard it yet, go get it! If this tour comes to a town near you, do yourself the favor of buying the ticket. This show is definitely one you do not want to miss. *All photos by Bud Gambrell bgambrellphotography.com Bud Gambrell Photography Bud Gambrell Photography is a locally owned and operated photography business in North Alabama. Call or email us today for an appointment. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Mayrunner’s music is a melting pot of styles and genres < Back Mayrunner: Thrashing Guitars for a Solid Rock Offering Nicole Brice Aug 14, 2023 Share Mayrunner’s music is a melting pot of styles and genres Have you heard of Mayrunner yet? Well, if not, you will soon. Mayrunner is an alt-rock band based in Lafayette, Louisiana , that was formed in 2014 . Founding members Devric Taylor and Hailey LeBlanc were looking to start a new project outside their previous band. They organized a search for a drummer to complete their lineup, which led them to Alex Mamolo , marking the beginning of the band, and here we are today. Over the years, there have been numerous lineup changes, but Mayrunner continues to move forward, creating music that defines their unique sound and brand. Currently, the band consists of Devric Taylor on vocals and guitar, Henry Milliman on bass, Finis Robinson on guitar, and Phil Hardy on drums. Their debut album, Good for What We Are , was released in 2018 and is just amazing, and then when I thought it couldn't get better, the band recently launched their highly anticipated follow-up album, Tell Me Where You've Been , on August 4, 2023 . This album is now available on all streaming platforms and features 37 minutes of enjoyable rock with fuzzy guitars and catchy sing-along choruses. You'll love it, trust me. Released August 4, 2023 Mayrunner excels at crafting beautiful songs that I feel deeply. I love everything about their music, to be honest. Their lyrics tackle themes that resonate with me because of their emotional depth. The lyrics are perfectly complemented by haunting melodies and harmonious arrangements , too. With each song having its own unique sound, this band creates music they are truly passionate about, and you can see that reflected in the final product. One thing I truly love about this band is that they feature intricate riffs that are rich in depth, supported by a tight-knit rhythm section consisting of a bassist and a drummer with impeccable timing. With such a solid foundation, I have no doubt they will continue to gain popularity and success in the music industry, but I need you beautiful people to check out their music, so what are you waiting for? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiLTlAOGYuw Music video for 'Slowburn' by Mayrunner If you'd like to catch this band live, Mayrunner is taking the stage on August 19, 2023, to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana , so come out and see why I love them so much. We recently chatted with Devric Taylor , the lead voice of the band, where we discussed gear, band history, and everything in between. Sit back and learn a little more about Mayrunner as you make your way through our conversation. Credit: CobraTai Media MaM : Who or what do you attribute to defining your sound? DT : I think there are a lot of different artists that have inspired us as a band collectively, but I know for me some of my earliest influences were Coheed and Cambria and Incubus - pop-punk bands such as Fallout Boy , too, and metal and Midweset emo bands. I would say it's all over the place, though. MaM : Your music is a melting pop of different styles, and I really enjoy it. I can definitely tell you were influenced by the late 90's and early 2000's rock scene. DT : Thank you. We all grew up on that kind of music. And you know what? When we were learning how to play our instruments or writing songs, we would revisit the music from those bands that we just were super inspired by, and it helped with the songwriting process. MaM : That's a great way to go about it, too. What influences you to make music? DT : I've been asked that before, and I feel like the best and truest answer I can give is that it gives me a sense of identity. I make music because it inspires me, and I'm inspired to write music based on things that are going on in my life. But also, when I can get into that mindset of writing or being creative, I tend to say things that I don't know if I would have ever thought of just talking to somebody. I'm able to access different parts of my brain when creating and it helps me get to know the real me in the process. Credit: CobraTai Media MaM : How did the name for the band come about? DT : It's funny how it came about because we weren't initially called Mayrunner . We were trying out different names and at the time, it was me and two women in the band. Initially, we were playing on the fact that there were women in the band. We called the band Sons and Daughters . When we added our fourth member, we decided to change it again and we ended up coming up with the name The Sleepless May . I really liked that name for some reason, so I brought the name to the band, and they didn't like it at all, but I really wanted to keep the name May in there because of the sentimental value to it. I had a really good friend of mine that had passed away and he was born in that month. It made a lot of sense to me. For a long time, it was basically me and our original drummer just going back and forth with names. She suggested the name Runner at some point, and I was like, I don't like that because there was a band that I knew called Runner Runner and I just didn't like that. And then I said, I really wanna keep the word May in there, so she said, 'What about May Runner?' And I was like, 'I don't hate that.' So, we talked about it, and we sat on it, and it stuck. We just thought it was a cool pairing of words, though. MaM : I mentioned earlier about your sound being unique and I love that every song is different from the last. And I really do enjoy that. As far as the tones you guys have in your music, do you have specific gear that you use to achieve that sound? DT : Actually, yeah, so if I get all gear nerdy on you, I’m sorry. MaM : No, you're good. I'm a guitar player and I grew up playing piano, so go for it! DT : I’ve played around with a lot of guitars throughout the years. I had an Epiphone Les Paul . I had a Gretsch Electromatic Jet . I even had an Epiphone Black Beauty . There's probably a whole lot more that I can't think of, but I did play around with a few different configurations of guitars and amps. At one point, I found out that I really liked a British tone , too. My thing was, I really wanted a good distortion tone, and this is where influence comes in and it is Incubus related. So, Ben Kenney put out this album called “ Burn the Tapes ” and he did every instrument himself and he would do these live videos, too, with him playing everything. I would watch him play drums and bass and guitar, and his tone was amazing. He had a forum, and I would go and see what gear he was using and then make a note of it, but I didn’t have the money to get what he was using. Then, a friend of mine when I was in high school, had a Gibson SG , and he was a really talented player, but I'm not gonna lie, I was jealous of how he played, and I didn't exactly want to get a guitar that he played, so I was like, just let me find something else other than that. I then played a Gibson SG guitar at Guitar Center , and I couldn’t deny that it sounded the way I wanted it to, so I bought it and then ended up buying an Orange Amplifier . The natural distortion on that or natural overdrive rather was incredible. It was close to what I wanted, but not fully there. So, I had a tube in my pedal set up for a long time, and I tried different distortions like the Boss Distortion Pedals , but I just could not nail what I was searching for. And then I tried some random pedal, and I paired it with my Tube Screamer . My distortion by itself sounded more like an overdrive than anything, and it was kind of a dry overdrive mixed with the Tube Screamer. For some reason, it popped, and I had the Tube Screamer set in a certain way that it would kind of just crunch up my clean tone from the Orange which was already full sounding and then the SG brought it all together. I'm still playing with that setup to this day. Credit: Facebook MaM : That brings me to the next question, what are your plans and future aspirations for the band? DT : We are always thinking about moving forward, but things have changed recently for me. I’ve actually moved out of state. I'm coming back home right now to Lafayette because I’ve got a couple of shows, but then I'm going back and I will be out of the state for the foreseeable future, but we will still be a band, and if things happen with the band in its current state, I really want to get behind it 100% and push it as much as I can from a distance. To experience the music of Mayrunner , hit one of the links below and be sure to catch them at Rad Fest 2023 on August 19, 2023, at PARC International in downtown Lafayette . Mayrunner Links: Facebook : www.facebook.com/mayrunner4 Instagram : Mayrunner (@we_are_mayrunner) • Instagram photos and videos Bandcamp : Music | Mayrunner (bandcamp.com) Tik Tok : Mayrunner (@mayrunner__band) | TikTok Spotify : Mayrunner | Spotify Apple Music : ‎Mayrunner on Apple Music *Band interviewed by Je'an Paul Keller - article written by Nicole Brice *Cover photo by CobraTai Media - @cobrataimedia - https://www.instagram.com/cobrataimedia/ www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nicole Brice is secretly a ninja. It's true. If you have something you think she should check out, e-mail her at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. < Back Unwelcome: Film Review Shaun Corley Oct 16, 2023 Share Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. The 2022 film Unwelcome mixes the real-world horrors of home invasions with a creature feature, and while the result can be a little uneven, it is still a satisfying watch. Directed by Jon Wright , who brought audiences Robot Overlords (2014) and Grabbers (2012), Unwelcome sets itself apart from other such movies by embracing 80’s style practical effects over CGI. Drawing on Irish folklore, Unwelcome was pitched by Wright as “ Gremlins meets Straw Dogs .” Unwelcome stars Hannah John-Kamen ( Ant-Man and the Wasp ) and Douglas Booth ( Great Expectations ) as Maya and Jamie, a young couple who are the victims of a brutal home invasion the night they learn Maya is pregnant. While Maya is unharmed in the invasion, Jamie is severely beaten. The trauma of the incident leads them to relocate to Ireland, where Jamie has just inherited his aunt’s old estate. Maya and Jamie are embraced by the locals—for the most part. The estate is in desperate need of repair, and the couple hire a family known as the Whelans to fix it up. credit: IMDb Colm Meaney as "Daddy" Whelan with Jamie & Maya (credit: IMDb) On their first night in the house, they are advised by local neighbor Maeve (Niamh Cusack, of The Tower ) to leave out a blood offering each night, to appease the “Redcaps.” Maya and Jamie dismiss Niamh’s warnings. The next day, the Whelan family arrives at the estate. “Daddy” Whelan (played to the hilt by Colm Meaney, of Hell on Wheels ) bullies his three grown children, played by Jamie-Lee O’Donnell ( Screw ), Kristian Nairn (Hodor, of Game of Thrones ) and Chris Walley ( The Last Voyage of Demeter ). The children, in turn, terrorize Maya and Jamie, starting by stealing small stuff from their house. Later, one of the children, Eoin (Nairn), tries to assault Maya, drawing the wrath of the Redcaps, who drag him away. Matters spiral out of control from there. Looking for his missing son, Daddy Whelan and his surviving brood ramp up their war against Maya and Jamie, ultimately culminating in another violent home invasion. All the while, the two must contend with the Redcaps and a legacy of evil that threatens to engulf them. The two stories collide in a brutal and unforgettable climax, ending on a truly horrifying note. Unwelcome has a good deal going for it. Like all good folk horror, Unwelcome is rooted in tradition and mythology, in this case from the British Isles. The film’s Redcaps are actual creatures from Scottish and English lore. Closely resembling leprechauns, Redcaps are said to kill those who enter their territory, staining their hats red with the blood of their victims. Also called the far darring , these creatures are evil and malevolent. The Redcaps are brought to glorious life using largely practical effects, which adds a layer of realism to their appearance. The Redcaps’ menacing look was designed by Paul Catling with prosthetics created by Shaune Harrison . The lack of CGI in Unwelcome is a breath of fresh air in today’s industry. credit: IMDb Yet Unwelcome is not merely another creature feature. Instead, Wright infuses the movie with searing psychological horror . Maya and Jamie have been through hell together, surviving a violent home invasion with their lives. Wright effectively explores the trauma the incident left on them: Jamie becomes increasingly violent and more protective of Maya, to the point of reading books on self-defense techniques. Maya, by and far, seems to have healed and moved on from the trauma, but Jamie cannot let it go. It is a bleak and stark reminder that recovering from trauma takes time, if it happens at all. Wright described the film as a “home invasion thriller,” invoking the classic Sam Peckinpah film Straw Dogs (1971). Indeed, there are a number of similarities. Maya and Jamie, much like David and Amy in Straw Dogs , have relocated to the countryside, running up against provincial thinking and customs and mores that are wildly different. And just like Straw Dogs , this mistrust and tension builds to an explosive final conflict, one in which there are no real victors. One of Straw Dogs ’ themes of violence causing us to lose our humanity is taken to its extreme here in a bloody and unsettling ending. These elements could make Unwelcome a truly great movie, but the execution is a little uneven. However, the performances, particularly from Colm Meaney, more than make up for any deficiencies in the script. Likewise, Douglas Booth does an excellent job of chronicling Jamie’s descent into madness, one spurred not only by painful memories from London but also by the supernatural events going on around him. A fine addition to the folk horror canon, Unwelcome manages to rise above any flaws to become an entertaining movie. Unwelcome is currently streaming on AMC+, Prime Video, and DirecTV and is available to rent or purchase on Shudder, Google Play, Vudu, AppleTV, and Roku Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQCAgCKQ5WY Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, which are far outnumbered by comics and the smell of rich mahogany. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back What the Hell Did I Just Watch: Nekrotronic Ezekiel Kincaid Share Jul 10, 2023 Nekrotronic is a fantastic sci-fi/horror mashup that fans of B movies will love I know, you’ve probably never read a movie review in your life that starts out like this, but I’m drawn to demonic movies. I can’t help it. Welcome to my world, folks. It’s a grand universe where things are always colliding in a weird way. So, yes, I’m drawn to demonic movies like flies are drawn to shit. Wait, that might not be the best analogy because the movie I’m talking about is anything but a big heaping pile of dung—although it does have to do with poop, sort of. You’ll see. The installment for this round of What the Hell Did I Just Watch is Nekrotronic (2018), and it’s a fun one. Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner ( Wyrmwood , 2014), this Australian-based movie explores the demonic, demon possession, and the danger of our dumb-ass society constantly staring at their phones. It stars Ben O’Toole ( Hacksaw Ridge, Bloody Hell ) and Monica Bellucci ( The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions ). They’re probably the only ones in this movie you’ve ever heard of, as the rest of the cast is made up of low-budget heroes. Onto the plot! The story follows Howard North (O’Toole) and his sidekick/work bestie Rang (Epine Bob Savea, of Hibiscus & Ruthless ). The two work for a sewage maintenance company where, while on the job, North finds out his true calling in life: to become a demon killer. Yep, amidst his daily shit-slinging adventures, a demon outbreak happens, and Howard North finds out why he was put on this planet. IMDB still During the encounter, North and Rang are rescued by a father/daughter(s) team called necromancers, or in layman's terms, demon ass kickers. North finds out he’s the chosen one and joins the team. Sounds like your typical demon apocalypse movie, right? Wrong! There’s more to the story so try to keep up, will ya? To prevent this movie from being another run-of-the-mill possession movie that falls into the B-movie abyss, we have a little twist. The demon possession takes place through the internet—more specifically, a phone app. Yeah, you heard me right. Our villainess, CEO of the evil company trying to possess people, is Finnegan (Bellucci), and she is the one leading things. Her company has developed these internet box things, which have been installed all across the city and are used in conjunction with the app to possess people. IMDB still I’m not going to spoil how the demons possess people, nor will I disclose how they even discover such a thing is possible, but I will encourage you to be ready. It’s not believable … well, I mean it could be for some people, like children, but I digress. In typical B-movie fashion, some stuff takes place without zero explanation that leaves you with some WTF moments, all of which I love! There’s even an exploding goat! The movie has some great, gooey gross-out scenes and some decent gore, the interaction of the characters is great, and the movie is full of awkward and sarcastic humor that I found hilarious. Overall, Nekrotronic is a fantastic sci-fi/horror mashup fans of B movies will love. Rating: Zeke gives it 4.5 out of 5 exploding goats. Places to watch: Amazon Prime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj2YypZFkfs Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

With Halloween 2023 right around the corner, Mixed Alternative got together to recommend some of our favorite Halloween movies! < Back 20+ Halloween Films to Watch This Season: Feast Upon This Keeley Brooks & Mixed Alternative Staff Oct 22, 2023 Share With Halloween 2023 right around the corner, Mixed Alternative got together to recommend some of our favorite Halloween movies! ‘Tis the season for all things spooky, my friends, and here at Mixed Alternative, we love the weird and spooky because, well, that’s just who we are—well, maybe not spooky but definitely weird in the best possible way. In addition to costumes, candy, and creepy-looking house parties, Halloween is also celebrated in cinema. With the 2023 Halloween season right around the corner, we thought it would be fun to give you guys a little roundup of our favorite Halloween movies recommended by our writers and editors. Happy Viewing, my friends. --------------------------------------------------------------------- C.G. SMITH Evil Dead II (1987) Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Ted Raimi, Kassie Wesley DePaiva The Evil Dead franchise follows Ashley “Ash” Williams (Campbell) in his battle to survive on onslaught of flesh-possessing demons that he and his friends accidentally unleashed when they found an old book, the Necronomicon, at a cabin in the woods and read it aloud. Oops. Evil Dead II finds Ash holed up in cabin with a group of strangers as the demons continue their attack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qBGnzz7mPI “I first watched Evil Dead II in middle school with friends at a sleepover, and what I loved about it then and now is the way it mixes comedy with gore . It’s wonderful. Evil Dead II will always be one of my favorite horror movies because of how absolutely fun it is to experience and how many memorable and quotable scenes there are not just in the franchise but in Evil Dead II in particular.” A Quiet Place (2018) Director: John Krasinski Cast: John Krasinkski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe If they hear you, they hunt you. Imagine having to live in a world where making the softest sound could get you killed. In A Quiet Place , a family must live in silence to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest whisper or footstep can bring death, Evelyn (Emily Blunt, of Edge of Tomorrow ) and Lee (John Krasinski, of The Office ) are determined to find a way to protect their kids while desperately searching for a way to fight back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR7cc5t7tv8 “ A Quiet Place is so great on so many levels, as it took something we all tend to take for granted and made the mere act of making sound a death sentence. Imagine giving birth in a world where you can't make a sound and there is no medical care, where you must keep your newborn quiet lest it be snatched by an alien before you can blink. Babies are not quiet, so the combined tension of giving birth silently and keeping a newborn quiet are just horrific. A Quiet Place is excellent writing and acting merging into a masterpiece from one spectacular idea . While A Quiet Place Part II didn't quite live up to the original, I still hold a place in my heart for this movie.” *Honorable Mention: The Omen (1976) Director: Richard Donner Cast: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, David Warner The Omen is about a boy named Damien (Harvey Stephens, of The Bat ) who is believed to be the Antichrist. When American diplomat Robert (Gregory Peck, of Cape Fear ) adopts Damien after his wife Katherine (Lee Remich, of Around the World in 80 Days ) delivers a stillborn, Damien’s first nanny hangs herself. When Father Brennan (Patrick Troughton, of Doctor Who ) warns Robert that Damien will harm Katherine’s unborn child, it isn’t long before Brennan turns up dead and Katherine miscarries when Damien pushes her off a balcony. As more people around Damien die, Robert investigates the kid’s background and realizes Damien may just be the devil’s son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS-sXcx30O4 “I read ‘The Omen’ book as a young child and later saw the film. The idea that a child had been born as the son of the devil to an influential family and would one day rise through the ranks of society was fascinating to me. The way The Omen built suspense and overall tension is truly something to witness . ‘Damien, it's all for you.’ Plus, I kinda looked like the child actor when I was his age.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- JEFF CRESPI Drag Me to Hell (2009) Director: Sam Raimi Cast: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier, Lorna Rave, David Paymer Alison Lohman ( Gamer ) stars as Christine Brown, a beautiful girl with a loving boyfriend (Justin Long, of Accepted ) and a great job at an L.A. bank. Her heavenly life becomes a living hell when, in an effort to impress her boss, she denies an old woman’s request for an extension on her home loan. In retaliation, the crone places a curse on Christine, threatening her soul with eternal damnation. Christine seeks a psychic’s help to break the curse, but can she afford the price to save her soul? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd8NNcd4Oeo “ Drag Me to Hell is one horror movie that always stood out to me. Actress Alison Lohman does an amazing job as the lead and looks a lot like our editor-in-chief, Nicole Brice! Drag Me to Hell has some very suspenseful and scary moments throughout the film, starting from early on. I think this is a great movie that doesn't fall into a list with the more obvious ones ." The Exorcist (1973) Director: William Friedkin Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, William O’Malley One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair, of The Exorcist: Believer ) starts acting odd—levitating, speaking in tongues—her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn, of Requiem for a Dream ) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. However, a local priest (Jason Miller, of The Exorcist III ) thinks the girl may be seized by the devil, so he makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow, of Flash Gordon ) to help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDGw1MTEe9k “I would have to say the scariest film of all time would be The Exorcist . The story, cinematography, acting, editing, and old school techniques combine perfectly to cast a deep shadow of fear in the hearts of any viewer. ” *Honorable Mentions: Saw Franchise (2004) Director: James Wan Cast: Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes Creators: James Wan and Leigh Whannell, Shawnee Smith, Tobin Bell, Danny Glover A groundbreaking horror franchise, Saw is about a sadistic serial killer named Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) who kidnaps people and sets them up in one of his perverse little puzzle games so that they have the choice: live or die. In the original Saw movie, photographer Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannel, of Upgrade ) and oncologist Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes, of The Princess Bride ) regain consciousness while chained to dirty, grimy pipes at either end of a filthy bathroom. As the two men realize they’ve been trapped, flashbacks relate the fates of Jigsaw’s previous victims while the two men are forced into torture as they fight for their survival, as Gordon’s wife and young daughter watch via closed-circuit video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-1QgOMQ-ls “As far as gore goes, the Saw franchise is fantastic and ultimately features some of the most cringeworthy horror scenarios available today . It’s no wonder the Saw movies make up the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time.” Halloween II (1981) Director: Rick Rosenthal Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasense, Charles Cyphers, Dick Warlock After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis, of True Lies ) and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence, of Halloween ), the masked Michael Myers follows Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she’s been admitted for Myers’ attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs, and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOdUKVD8Ac “There’s a lot about the Halloween movie franchise that stands out for numerous reasons, but one of my favorites is Halloween II , which focuses on Dr. Loomis’s hunt for Michael as a traumatized Laurie is rushed to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. Only thing is, Michael is right behind her and when he gets into the hospital, the action makes for one unforgettable scene that forever stands out for me. It’s a must see .” --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHUCK BROOKS Get Out (2017) Director: Jordan Peele Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, LaKeith Stanfield, Betty Gabriel, Marcus Henderson In a slam dunk of a directorial debut from actor, producer, writer, and comedian Jordan Peele ( Nope ), Get Out follows young couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya, of Black Panther ) and Rose (Allison Williams, of M3GAN ) as they go to visit her parents in Upstate New York. Chris has never met them before and is a little weary about this milestone in their relationship. When they first arrive, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship (Rose is White, Chris is Black), but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries leads him right to a truth he could’ve never imagined. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koQKnuQb7zQ “What I enjoyed about Get Out is its commentary on how Black people are treated in the 21st Century. Peele managed to write an ingenious horror movie that’s stone-cold realistic commentary on the enslavement of a race of people for their perceived physical attributes and longevity . Get Out is masterfully told and acted out on all parts of the cast—the ensemble of which was a big deal. The scene where Chris is struck in sheer terror emanates with how Black people must feel today: like there’s an area where if they cross some perceived line in reality, there’ll be retaliation by the system. Catherine Keener ( The 40-Year-Old Virgin ) and Bradley Whitford ( The Handmaid’s Tale ) represent this and capitalize on Black lives before Black Lives Matter ever became a thing. This movie is important for a lot of reasons : It’s a good movie with a valuable message as a horror movie , it adds to the shallow repertoire when it comes to black horror films, and it crosses borders like Us (2019) does. The social commentary with Get Out is exploitation on Black people as a whole treated as a commodity, as something to be traded or sold. Peele wrote a horror movie about Black people that is a real-time horror tale set in real life, and he couldn’t bring more valuable views and messages to the masses with his work.” Zombieland (2009) Director: Ruben Fleischer Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray After a virus turns most people into zombies, the world’s surviving humans remain locked in an ongoing battle against the hungry undead. Four survivors—Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson, of White Men Can’t Jump ) and his cohorts, Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg, of The Social Network ), Wichita (Emma Stone, of La La Land ), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin, of Little Miss Sunshine )—abide by a list of survival rules and zombie-killing strategies as they make their way toward a rumored safe haven in Los Angeles … at the house of one Bill Murray ( Lost in Translation ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlW9yhUKlkQ Zombieland is one of the best comedy-horror films today. From its comedic aspects such as Columbus’s rules for surviving in this new zombie-infested world to the tough but sensitive levity Woody Harrelson brings to his character to the zombies’ development and adopted zombie-telling techniques from other areas, everything about this film works together to enhance an already excellent storyline . Zombieland is exciting, full of wild action with well-choreographed stunts, and it features just the right amount of gore without being too much. Zombieland is a movie that you can still watch and get something out of it, even if you’re not a zombie person . --------------------------------------------------------------------- EZEKIEL KINCAID The Exorcist (1973) Director: William Friedkin Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, William O’Malley One of the most profitable horror movies ever made , this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events . When young Regan (Linda Blair, of The Exorcist: Believer ) starts acting odd—levitating, speaking in tongues—her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn, of Requiem for a Dream ) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. However, a local priest (Jason Miller, of The Exorcist III ) thinks the girl may be seized by the devil, so he makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow, of Flash Gordon ) to help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDGw1MTEe9k “ The Exorcist set the standard for possession movies. Friedkin's bold adaptation of Blattey's novel has shocked and scared audiences since its release in 1973 and still does so to this day. Often imitated but never replicated, no possession movie has ever surpassed this one in thrills and chills .” Hereditary (2018) Director: Ari Aster Cast: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter and grandchildren begin to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry, trying to outrun the sinister fate they’ve inherited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6wWKNij_1M “I once read somewhere that Hereditary was The Exorcist of this modern-day generation, so it is no surprise I love it. The Exorcist it is not, but that doesn't mean it isn’t unsettling. Ari Aster's dark take on the cult/occult subgenre of horror will keep you awake for days . That’s a guarantee.” Halloween (1978) Director: John Carpenter Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran, Nancy Kyes, Charles Cyphers On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes, returning to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ke9IPTIJQ “John Carpenter and Debra Hill raised the bar for slasher movies with Halloween . Ominous, atmospheric, and foreboding, Michael Myers has a creep factor that many of his predecessors and contemporaries lack. Halloween also has the best theme music ever !” --------------------------------------------------------------------- KEELEY BROOKS 28 Days Later (2002) Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Megan Burns, Naomi Harris When a group of eco-terrorists free a chimp from its lab cage in a Cambridge medical research lab, they’re unaware it’s infected with what is called the “Rage virus” and unknowingly unleash the apocalypse. When London bike courier Jim (Cillian Murphy, of Peaky Blinders ) wakes up from 28 days in a coma, he finds London in total collapse, the world in destruction, and society completely obliterated. It’s only when he’s chased through the streets by aggressive, wicked fast, bloodthirsty creatures and is saved by a couple of uninfected that he learns what has happened and must figure out a way to survive in a world not only full of raging zombies but also littered with broken down groups of humanity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7suz9ndPBHg “ 28 Days Later was the first zombie movie to truly scare me. Before then, I’d never seen fast zombies, let alone violent, aggressive ones. I love everything about this movie, from its concept to its pace in storytelling to its simple use of blood to imply more than what is seen. 28 Days Later features stellar acting (this was Cillian Murphy’s first big movie) and a smart soundtrack that drives the panic and tension throughout the story. And further compounding this hair-raising scenario is the horror story within the horror story , which shows what happens when humanity ceases to exist. I also love how Director Danny Boyle juxtaposes this horrific scenario with the beautiful backdrop of nature—ironic since nature is where viruses originate. ** For more about this movie, read my full review of 28 Days Later . World War Z (2013) Director: Marc Forster Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, Matthew Fox When former U.N. investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt, of Ocean's Eleven ) and his family get stuck in urban gridlock, he senses it’s no ordinary traffic jam and he’s right: The city is erupting into chaos at an incredibly fast pace, leaving little to no chance for escape or survival. A lethal virus spread through a simple bite is turning healthy people into something vicious, unthinking, and feral within a matter of 12 seconds. As the pandemic threatens to consume humanity, Gerry leads a worldwide search to find the source of the infection and, with a stroke of luck, a way to halt its spread. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slfrrjPndV4 “Clearly, zombie movies are my favorite horror movies--next to slasher films, of course. World War Z had the same effect on me that 28 Days Later had: sheer terror . I didn’t think it was possible to amp up the aggression, speed, and bloodlust that zombies of the early 21st Century had come to display, but World War Z came along and nailed it. With the exception of about four minutes at the beginning and end of the film, World War Z is adrenaline-inducing and heart pounding from start to finish . Every single moment of this film is level 10 panic and chaos—no time to think, no time to movie, no time to fear. The cinematography is gorgeous, again using the technique of juxtaposing breathtaking views with a horrific reality. And I have to give mad props to the makeup and special effects department, who, no pun intended, killed it with these zombies. Those moments in the halls of the Center for Disease Control had me holding my breath as I sat there, mouth wide open, in total awe and appreciation of what I was seeing: tension to the max . Also, that massive horde of zombie savagely climbing the walls of Jerusalem is just breathtaking—terrifying, but breathtaking. World War Z is stellar horror all the way around .” Scream (1996) Director: Wes Craven Cast: Drew Barrymore, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, Tatum O’Neal, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Henry Winkler Set in the small town of Woodsboro, Middle America, Scream ’s plot follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell, of The Craft ) and her friends, who, on the anniversary of her mother’s murder, become the targets of a costumed, knife-wielding serial killer known as Ghostface. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm_mkbdpCA “I love Scream because it scared me without terrifying me and made me laugh in ways that didn’t make the movie any less effective in its serious nature. Featuring one of the best opening scenes in a slasher movie , which was alone enough to instill the fear and pace of this narrative and hook us in from the get-go, Scream reinvented and revitalized the slasher-horror genre . It’s funny and clever in dialogue and character portrayals—thanks, in part, to momentous performances from David Arquette ( Never Been Kissed ), Matthew Lillard ( Good Girls ) and Henry Winkler ( The Waterboy )—while remaining deep in the vein of seriousness, psychological thrills, and plenty of jump scares. Craven masterfully builds tension and self-parody as the body count in Woodsboro rises and a fright-masked knife-wielding maniac stalks high school students in middle-class suburbia. Another reason Scream is a must see : the irony in Randy Meeks’ (Jamie Kennedy, of Son of the Mask ) scene explaining the rules to surviving any horror movie: (1) never have sex, (2) never drink or do drugs, and (3) never ever ever, under any circumstances, say, ‘I’ll be right back.’” Cujo (1981) Director: Lewis Teague Cast: Danny Pintauro, Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Christopher Stone Adapted from infamous horror author Stephen King’s story of the same name, Cujo is the terrifying tale of a sweet St. Bernard who is bitten by a bat and contracts rabies. Cujo, who roams between his owner’s house and auto garage on the same property, starts behaving oddly and becomes very aggressive, eventually morphing into a dangerous beast thirsting to kill. When stay-at-home mom (Dee Wallace, of Sons and Daughters ) gets caught in Cujo’s crosshairs while out on a fateful errand with her young son Tad (Danny Pintauro, of Who’s the Boss? ), she must fight to protect herself and Tad from Cujo when they become trapped in their tiny Ford Pinto after it breaks down at the auto garage … for days, with no help in sight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFUD8b-BZCc “I won’t lie: Cujo scared the absolute shit out of me when I first saw it as a young teen. It’s not the rabies-infested dog that makes Cujo so scary; rather, it’s King’s claustrophobic scenario of being trapped in a tiny, dysfunctional car guarded by crazed, rabid beast that terrifies. From the scenes of Dee’s escalating fear to Cujo viciously attempting to get into the car to Teague’s filming techniques that keep us grounded in awareness, Cujo is definitely one of the scariest real-life scenario movies I’ve ever seen . I never looked at St. Bernards the same way after seeing this film.” Beetlejuice (1988) Director: Tim Burton Cast: Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder After Barbara (Geena Davis, of A League of Their Own ) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin, of Supercell ) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck in their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O’Hara, of Schitt’s Creek , and Jeffrey Jones, of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ) and their teen goth daughter (Winona Ryder, of Mr. Deeds ) move in, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. That’s when they turn to rambunctious bio-exorcist Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton, of Batman ) and all hell breaks loose in the best possible Tim-Burton way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8drwhnYhmw “I adore this movie and everything about Tim Burton’s exaggerated gothic style. Beetlejuice features an all-star cast who, honestly, couldn’t have played their roles any better. Beetlejuice is original, creepy, funny, artistic, and completely entertaining . This movie never gets old and now with a sequel coming in 2024, I suspect Beetlejuice will reach a whole new generation of fans. I can't wait.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- MO THORNTON The Night House (2020) Director: David Bruckner Cast: Rebecca Hall, Sarh Goldberg, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Evan Jonigkeit Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall, of The Town ) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tires as best she can to keep it together, but then the dreams come and disturbing visions of a presence in the house call to her, beckoning with a ghostly allure. But in the harsh light of day, any proof of a haunting dissolves. Against the advice of her friends, Beth digs into her husband’s belongings in a frantic search for answers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Tshycci2ZA “I love a good scare, and one of my go-to films for a sleepless night that has me double-checking the locks on my door while experiencing mounting, almost unbearable suspense is The Night House . Rebecca Hall stars as a widow whose grief is complicated by anger, confusion, and guilt as her husband died by his own hand. The remote lake house setting makes it all the creepier (and more delicious) to explore, along with the protagonist's thin spaces between reality and nightmare.” Fear of Rain (2021) Director: Castille Landon Cast: Katherine Heigl, Harry Connick Jr., Madison Iseman, Israel Broussard “ Fear of Rain brilliantly takes the audience into the dark, terrifying world of a teen girl who struggles with mental health.” Rain (Madison Iseman, of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ) has early-onset schizophrenia, a condition that not only causes her to see vivid hallucinations but also puts a strain on her parents. When she meets Caleb (Israel Broussard, of Fear the Walking Dead ), a charmingly awkward new kid at school, Rain finally feels a lifeline to normalcy. But as she starts to suspect her neighbor kidnapped a child, she must figure out who and what is real while also battling the overwhelming forces that haunt her daily life . “The danger she encounters during her episodes might not all be ‘in her mind.’” https://youtu.be/jFxOxLLzjG8?feature=shared “Full disclosure: Both The Night House and Fear of Rain deliver heart-stopping jolts of fright that let me skip the gym the next morning—an added appeal.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- NICOLE BRICE Halloween (2007) Director: Rob Zombie Cast: Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, William Forsythe, Udo Kier, Danny Trejo Nearly two decades after being committed to a mental institution for killing his stepfather and older sister, Michael Myers breaks out, intent on returning home to Haddonfield, Illinois. He arrives on Halloween with the indomitable purpose of hunting down his younger sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton, of An American Crime ). The only thing standing between Michael and a Halloween night full of bloody carnage is Dr. Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell, of A Clockwork Orange ). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjWLc-7SI00 “Rob Zombie’s Halloween completely changed my view of the Halloween franchise. Growing up, I always felt that beyond the first two original Halloween films, the franchise became cheesy and stale. Then in walks Rob Zombie with this scary as f**k take on the narrative and I was blown away. To this day, Halloween (2007) still freaks me out, but in a good way." Sleepy Hollow (1999) Director: Tim Burton Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Jeffrey Jones, Christopher Walken Set in 1799, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is based on Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. Faithful to the dreamy custom-bound world that Irving paints in his story, Sleepy Hollow mixes horror, fantasy, and romance while featuring an extraordinary cast of characters that dabble in the supernatural. And, of course, it features Tim Burton’s unforgettable gothic style to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=504uo6f3xEc “I absolutely love everything about Sleepy Hollow . When Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp, of Pirates of the Caribbean ) is sent to the creepy town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people, he soon discovers the culprit isn’t another person but is the legendary apparition The Headless Horseman . Everything about this movie is perfect : the acting, the tone, Burton’s pace of his film, the cinematic techniques used to create suspense and fear, the scenery, the narrative—absolutely perfecto in my opinion. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SHAUN CORLEY Night of the Living Dead (1968) Director: George Romero Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman The black-and-white George Romero classic Night of the Living Dead follows seven people trapped in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania as they fight to fend off a hungry horde of reanimated corpses. Pragmatic Ben (Duane Jones, of Vampires ) does his best to control the situation, but when the reanimated bodies surround the house, the other survivors begin to panic. As any semblance of order within the group begins to dissipate, the zombies find their way inside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8vZhSjES8 “ Night of the Living Dead is my first favorite movie from when I was all of 10 years old. When I revisited it in college, I found out it held up really well. What I like about Night of the Living Dead is its subversive nature. It was a commentary on 1968 America, and it is still relevant today .” The People Under the Stairs (1991) Director: Wes Craven Cast: Ving Rhames, Sean Whalen, Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer When young Fool (Brandon Adams, of The Sandlot ) breaks into the home of his family’s greedy and uncaring landlords, he discovers a disturbing scenario where incestuous adult siblings have mutilated a number of boys and kept them imprisoned under the stairs in their large, creepy house. As Fool attempts to flee before the psychopaths can catch him, he meets their daughter, Alice (A.J. Langer, of Private Practice), who has been spared any extreme discipline by her deranged parents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx4jKIzvVUo “ The People Under the Stairs is the first R-rated movie I ever saw in theaters. How my dad convinced my mom to let him take me I'll never know. The People Under the Stairs comes across as goofy and campy, but there's actually a great deal of subtext about gentrification and ‘urban renewal’ in it.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- TIM JACKSON The Exorcist (1973) Director: William Friedkin Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, William O’Malley One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair, of The Exorcist III ) starts acting odd—levitating, speaking in tongues—her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn, of Requiem for a Dream ) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. However, a local priest (Jason Miller, of Paradox Lake ) thinks the girl may be seized by the devil, so he makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow, of Flash Gordon ) to help. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDGw1MTEe9k “The scariest horror movie for me remains The Exorcist. At maybe 13 years old, I saw the TV version of the original 1973 movie, and even that version with the most graphic scenes and swear words removed was the scariest movie I had ever seen . Several years later, I saw the full, uncut version and was once again terrified. The Exorcist is exquisitely done . Its special effects for that era were superb. The subject matter, especially for someone raised in the church, seemed so much more real than a Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. The Exorcist avoided a lot of the jump-scares and other horror tropes and instead just told a story that scared the shit out of you. It's the all-time best horror movie , in my opinion. *I also love some of the movies adapted from Stephen King's books: The Shining, Pet Sematery, Carrie, Christine, and Cujo , for instance. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Death and Glory Tour was a testament to music's power to unite us. < Back Death and Glory Tour: Palaye Royale & Johnnie Guilbert at The Joy Theater in New Orleans Rian Nickels Mar 3, 2025 Share The Death and Glory Tour was a testament to music's power to unite us. During the peak of the Carnival season on February 26th, 2025 , just a week before Louisiana’s most beloved holiday – Mardi Gras – the popular music venue Joy Theater in New Orleans , Louisiana , was visited by two amazing acts on the rise in the alternative music scene. (Although they’ve both been under the radar for over a decade.) The weather was perfect, the streets were adorned with the purple, gold, and green glimmers of the classic Mardi Gras beads, and citizens and tourists proudly wore the traditional Mardi Gras Colors. This made for the perfect night to see what Palaye Royale and Johnnie Guilbert had in store for us. Credit: Rian Nickels The line was wrapping around Joy Theater . Punks, Emos, and Alternatives were dripping in black clothes, fishnets, band merchandise, and eyeliner and waiting excitedly for the doors to open. As the doors opened, the bars, barricades, and merch tables were lined with eager fans. Jay and I found a spot up close to wait for the show to begin. Kicking off the night was Musician and long-standing Youtuber Johnnie Guilbert . Credit: Rian Nickels This was Johnnie’s first time touring with a full band , and even though he’s been around and well-known on YouTube for over a decade, his music career is only starting to take off . From watching his videos, I can tell that, like many of us in the alternative scene, Johnnie’s always been kind of shy and anxious; I was excited to see if being on tour has helped him to become more confident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c53ioBgsCD0 As soon as Johnnie came out in his signature black Ray-Bans , the crowd lost their minds; the fan girls broke out in shrills and screams of joy . He greeted New Orleans and then went straight into his tracks ‘ If Looks Could Kill ’ and ‘ Angel of Death ’. The energy was instantly on fire in Joy Theater as the fans let loose while SCREAMING every lyric to his songs; it was then clear to me that the alternative music fan base in Louisiana was still breathing . By the time Johnnie performed his newest song – ‘ Fake Positivity ’ - his confidence in his stage presence was starting to shine brighter. He was all over the stage, switching between wearing and taking off his shirt and sunglasses, dramatically falling to the floor and singing while lying on his back, and was full of high, edgy energy. You could genuinely see that he was happy to be standing in front of us. After playfully swaying around to each side of the stage, giving everyone in the front row the proper amount of attention, he asked the crowd for more energy (and boy did they deliver) before he fell to his knees to get down to crowd level before he and the crowd echoed the song’s chorus through the theater. Johnnie then played hit songs like ‘ Violent Dream , ’ ‘ Doctor ,’ and ‘ Zombie .’ https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_a4b7a81378694e8fb3fefe1d9f694766/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Johnnie Guilbert performs 'Zombie' at The Joy Theater in New Orleans on February 26, 2025 (video courtesy of Rian Nickels). Credit: Rian Nickels In between songs, Johnnie made sure to let his playful personality shine with silly comments to the crowd, saying things like “And this one’s ‘ Baby ’ by Justin Bieber ” before playing ‘ Zombie ’ and reciting Chappell Roan ’s spelling from her track ‘ Hot to Go ’. Of course, following Johnnie’s ‘H-O-T-T-O-G-O’ was the crowd’s requitement of “You can take me hot to go”. Credit: Rian Nickels Johnnie made sure that the crowd felt included by holding the hands of fans and waving in their direction. I was surprised and overjoyed by his warm, rowdy, joyous, diva energy as he’s usually known for being the dark, emotional, and sensitive guy. Being in Johnnie’s crowd made me feel like there was no separation of artist and fan ; it was one of those concerts where you’re reminded that the show couldn’t go on without one or the other. Credit: Rian Nickels For Johnnie's last song, ' Vampire ', he created a moment that will be etched in my memory forever. He asked everyone to come closer, and we all huddled around him. As he sang the closing verse, we all sang along, our arms reaching out to him. It was a moment of shared intimacy, a perfect conclusion to a performance that we will always remember. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_364b92a07f76437db72f6fa16aa64ca7/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Johnnie Guilbert performs 'Vampire' at The Joy Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 26, 2025 (video courtesy of Rian Nickels) Credit: Rian Nickels Before leaving the stage, he told New Orleans goodnight and that he’d meet everyone at the merch table and take photos. I don’t think I’ve ever run as fast as I did to his merch table. Johnnie was kind to every person in the line, giving everyone time for a photo, an autograph, time to appreciate the gifts he was being given (like bracelets, drawings of himself, and various trinkets), and a small chat. When it was my turn, I told him about how I had been watching his videos while I edited my concert photos for the past year and that I was so incredibly honored to be able to capture pictures of him. Credit: Rian Nickels He was genuine and told me he saw me in the photo pit, loves to see the photos people take of him, and to be on the lookout. I took a photo with him and gave him a farewell hug (after asking him if he was a hugger, which you should always do!) so that the rest of the eager fans could get their chance to meet him. With my heart full of gratitude for that full circle moment, I was pumped and ready for the headlining band, Palaye Royale . Before the show, I had only heard a few Palaye Royale songs, so I had no idea what to expect from their performance. Palaye Royale is a garage/glam rock band from Las Vegas , Nevada , comprising three brothers. Remington Leith is the band’s frontman, with Sebastian Danzig on guitar and keys and Emerson Barret on the drums. They are supported by touring members Logan Baudean (from Louisiana) on the bass and Dave Green on the guitar. It would be a complete understatement to say their performance blew me out of the water. Credit: Rian Nickels Palaye Royale came out strong with a tsunami of riotous energy with their new track from their latest album, Death or Glory . I fell more in love with their stage presence with every song they performed . Remmington has an impressive amount of energy pouring out of him that keeps you on your feet with your heart racing with excitement. Emerson has just the right amount of punk attitude and the drum talent to back it up. I know people say this about drummers all the time, but he was the heartbeat of the performance , keeping everyone on time and in harmony. Sebastian was just as talented and charismatic as his brothers; something about h is riffs on the guitar takes you away from the world and brings you into the moment . These brothers are insanely talented and harmonic, but their touring members add the perfect edge to their live performances. Logan’s baselines make it impossible not to groove your body to the rhythm. One of my favorite highlights of the performance was when they played ‘ No Love in LA ’; For this track, the whole crowd was in tune , and the entire venue was jumping, singing the words, and flowing with pure excitement . The crowd was already mighty alive, but this brought the show together . Royale switched up the energy from chaotic to heartfelt with their track ‘ Just My Type ’ and then right back to that rebellious vibe with ‘ Addicted to the Wicked & Twisted ’ from their newest album. Palaye then played one of my favorites from their latest album, ‘ Show Biz .’ I like this track because it compliments Remington’s voice versatility and reminds me of 2000s rock with a modern enhancement. They then slowed things way down with ‘ Dying In A Hot Tub ’ from their record Boom Boom Room (Side B) , a track about losing someone you care about to addiction/suicide; in that moment, you could feel just how many of us could relate to this and felt understood. Palaye Royale played a lengthy set that was the perfect mix of new and old songs for older and newer fans. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_d9ad9a0777c748dfbe157c62512e6d8c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Palaye Royale performs 'You'll Be Fine' at The Joy Theater in New Orleans, LA on February 26, 2025 (video courtesy of Rian Nickels) For the end of their set, they took things back to 2022 with their song ‘ Fever Dream ’; this track reminded me of the heaviness of the My Chemical Romance song ‘ Famous Last Words ’ and showed the band's possible inspiration from Gerard Way . This song had huge blow-up balls bouncing all around the venue, another thing that helped connect the audience with the band as members and fans were practically playing a massive game of “Keepy-Uppy”. Credit: Rian Nickels After the song's end , the lights went dark , and they suspiciously dropped their instruments and walked off stage. Of course, all attendees started to chant “ONE MORE SONG!” until the band came back on stage, wearing Mardi Gras Masquerade masks and covered in the famous plastic beads. The crowd of New Orleans went wild for that! Palaye Royale then played us a whole THREE more songs for the encore: ‘ Dead to Me , ‘ Lonely ,’ which is my absolute favorite, and ‘ Mr. Doctor Man ’. Something about them that stuck out to me was how well they all played together; you could tell these three brothers were in tune with each other. I appreciated the level of presence, style, and talent they brought to Joy Theater , and although I went in only somewhat of a fan, I left a fan for life! Palaye Royale had the perfect amount of Panic-At-The-Disco-Carnival-Esque for Louisiana’s Carnival season. As the lights dimmed and the night came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel that familiar rush of adrenaline that only live music can provide. Palaye Royale and Johnnie Guilbert performed and made us a part of their world for a few hours. They reminded us of something easy to forget in this crazy, chaotic world: that music is a form of connection, a pulse that beats through every heart in the crowd. With all its raw energy and unapologetic rebellion, the alternative scene still has a place for everyone who craves authenticity in a world that often feels too polished. That night, it wasn’t just about the songs—it was about the moments between them. The shared glances, the laughs, the love, the chaos—every little piece of the night reminded me why I fell in love with this scene in the first place. The Death and Glory Tour was a testament to music's power to unite us. As I walked out of the venue, I knew that despite the noise, neon, and the glittering beads of Mardi Gras, this kind of magic stays with you long after the last note fades away. To learn more about Palaye Royale: www.palayeroyale.com Palaye Royale To learn more about Johnnie Guilbert: Johnnie Guilbert - YouTube *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels - to see more, check out Rian's site below. rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

His ethereal music makes for one magical, introspective ride < Back Rickey Mitchell: Composer of Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtracks Keeley Brooks Jun 7, 2023 Share His ethereal music makes for one magical, introspective ride In a sea rife with performing and touring musicians, most don’t realize there are also composers swimming around out there who aren't necessarily looking to tour venues and play live music but to find the right TV show, documentary, and/or major motion picture to showcase their work. Perhaps one of the most popular soundtrack composers of the 21st century is Bear McCreary, who has scored everything from television ( The Walking Dead, Black Sails, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power ) to movies ( 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Cloverfield Paradox, Knights of Badassdom ) to video games (" God of War," "Call of Duty: Vanguard" ). Recently, I had the chance to meet a composer in North Alabama who creates such hauntingly beautiful music, it makes you feel like you might just be listening to a potential soundtrack for some of the most intimate parts of your life. His name is Rickey Mitchell, and his work is as unique as he is … it’s even reminiscent, at times, of one of my favorite bands, Pink Floyd. We all know the type of music—that ethereal, ambient, emotionally charged flow that drives a particular scene in a film or theme of a documentary production, even a character’s identity and understanding of the world around him or her in a series or show. It’s that music in the background that compels you to focus mindfully on artistic detail. We often don’t pay too much attention to the music in the background, but there’s a good reason we should: Without it, those rich, quality nuances used to draw in an audience and help propel an art form forward would be noticeably absent. And that’s what Mitchell’s music does: It gently draws your artistic gaze to hone in on the tiniest bit of detail, detaches you from the busyness of your mind, and breathes new life into your world as it takes you on a full introspective ride. Mitchell has been playing music his entire life. Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, he currently residents in the Muscle Shoals-area of Alabama. He’s an extremely talented composer attempting to break not into mainstream music but into major motion pictures, documentaries, independent films, and television. photo provided by Rickey Mitchell Mitchell achieved one of those goals back in the early Nineties when Magic Johnson retired. NBC picked up one of his songs to accompany the sports highlights that spanned Johnson’s career. “A fan actually pitched one of my compositions to NBC for a Magic Johnson documentary. You can hear my song ‘Deep Cut’ from my first album ‘Money Talks, Beauty Screams.’ It’s playing during a lot of the sports highlights. So, that’s how that happened. I hope to one day score epic films or anything Steven Spielberg produces,” says Mitchell. A lifelong composer and musician, Rickey shows no signs of slowing down or giving up on his dreams, and after getting a sneak listen at his upcoming new album, I’d say he’s got a bright future full of opportunity just waiting for him. His music makes you want to shut out the world and ponder your deepest thoughts and feelings. Mitchell is one super cool dude making some very intriguing music with some very notable people. Here’s what he had to say about his influences, his new album, and what’s next for him in his creative endeavors. MaM : Rickey, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us. We really dig the tunes you shared with us from your upcoming album. How long have you been playing music? RM : Thank you for having me! I began playing music in 1969 at four years old. I was heavily influenced by the 1968 comeback NBC TV special of Elvis, but the desire to pursue music came from my cousin, C. Gaby Mitchell . He was and still is an incredible musician and screenwriter. He wrote for the films Blood Diamond and Get Low . He’s one of my biggest supporters who helps me navigate the industry. MaM : What would you say your style is? RM : My style of composition and finished product is usually labeled as art rock, a type of neo-classical composing not typical of current mainstream music heard on the radio today. MaM : Well, it’s very interesting and engaging. What instruments do you play? RM : I play piano, mostly, but I began as a percussionist. The natural gravitation to piano was seamless for me. photo provided by Rickey Mitchell MaM : After hearing you play piano, I’d say “seamless” is the perfect way to describe your efforts. Who would you say have been your biggest influences? RM : Where writing is concerned, I’m most influenced by Keith Green, early Elton John, Billy Joel, and the band Kansas. MaM : Ooh, nice. They’re all such great songwriters. I dig some Kansas! Tell us what has your music career been like? What motivates you? RM : Music as a career has been a labor of love. It’s the joy of creating that motivates me. I create everyday. MaM : Over the years, have you worked and/or played with anyone of notability? RM : Most of my career, I’ve been blessed to play in [studio] sessions with some great players. The most notable is Jerry Donahue , who is an American guitarist primarily known for his work in the British folk-rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention , as well as a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters . But as a rule, most of my last 30 years have been spent writing. MaM : I understand you have a new album on the brink of release. What can you tell us about that? RM : I do. My first album released in 1991, so this second album has been a long time coming. It’s called ‘Midnite at the Pianotorium’ and is eight tracks of pure, original progressive art rock with a few surprises. It features a good bit of people, too, like Will McFarlane, formerly of Bonnie Raitt’s band, on guitar; Kirk Bowie Russell, of An Abstract Theory band, also on guitar; Kevin Reed, also of An Abstract Theory, on drums; Tyler Ross, of Grace & Tony band, on bass; Danley Murner on cello, bass, and synth axe; Al Barrow, formerly of Magnum from the UK, on bass guitar on the title track; Jessica Rothstein on vocals; and Kimi Samson on violin and viola. Kimi is easily one of the best musicians I’ve ever known. No one else plays like her; she is sublime. Rickey Mitchell and Kimi Samson, photo provided by Rickey Mitchell ‘Midnite at the Pianotorium’ releases June 25, 2023, at midnight. The goal is to entertain and hopefully catch the ears of those who hear this music or music of the like in a film, documentary, or major motion picture. The album will be available locally in The Shoals area at Vinyl Junkies Record Lounge , as well as on the web through Amazon for CD purchase and download. MaM : It was very kind of you to let us sample some tunes from the new album. We loved “Afternoon at Ghost Bridge” and I understand you had an important co-writer on that. Would you please elaborate? RM : The song was inspired by a trip I took to Ghost Bridge in Florence, Alabama, in January 2004. I had never been. I pondered all the urban legends as I walked across the bridge--just me, my friend, and her dog. I ventured back to my studio and by mid-April, I had finally worked out the sequence for my Korg Triton with a CD burner and 16-track capability … out came ‘Afternoon at Ghost Bridge.’ … I think I needed the time working in the studio and absorbing all the stories I heard and feelings I felt that day. It was magical. [But] the bridge is no more. It was demolished in 2013. I wrote ‘Afternoon at Ghost Bridge’ with my friend Phil Keaggy , who is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist with more than 55 albums under his belt and more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. In 2007, Keaggy was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and in 2010, he was ranked #43 in Gibson’s list of the ‘50 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.’ Phil Keaggy, photo provided by Rickey Mitchell Phil and I met in 1986 in Los Angeles but have never worked together until now. Phil is a world-renowned guitarist—one of the best who has ever lived. It was an honor to work with him and I hope to continue working with him. We remain close friends. MaM : It really is a beautiful song. And speaking of “Afternoon at Ghost Bridge,” I believe now is the perfect time to debut it to the world! RM : Yes! I agree. This is the actual world premiere of ‘Afternoon at Ghost Bridge,’ written by me and Phil Keaggy. (Select the track below to listen!) 1 Audio Track .aiff Download AIFF • 36.69MB MaM : Well, Rickey, we think you’re one cool dude who is long overdue on some press coverage, so thank you for allowing us to nose around in your business and learn a little more about you! Before we go, though, inquiring minds want to know what are you watching when you aren’t composing? RM : (laughs) I’m a composer first and foremost, but I do watch movies every single day. The best movie I’ve seen in a decade is Where the Crawdads Sing . Also, I highly recommend Till , an excellent film about a southern tragedy. For more information on Rickey Mitchell, you can find him on Facebook . And don't forget to check Amazon at midnight on Sunday, June 25 for the release of Rickey's new album "Midnite at the Pianotorium!" You'll be glad you did. That album is worthy of kicking back in your best Dude sandals with a White Russian and letting the world (and all your troubles) melt away. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

She Might Be a Beast unleashes the raw power of Neo-Grunge with their latest album, “Art Class” < Back She Might Be a Beast: An Enigma of Youth, Retro Vibes, and Energy Erica Machen Nov 29, 2023 Share She Might Be a Beast unleashes the raw power of Neo-Grunge with their latest album, “Art Class” She Might Be a Beast, hailing from the melting pot of eclectic music that is New Orleans, La., electrifies listeners with their unique Neo-grunge sound. The band is comprised of the Brezinsky brothers, Jake and Julian, alongside John Williams. Jake is the lead vocalist and guitarist, with Julian on bass and back-up vocals, while John bangs on the drums. They infuse their music with a blend of 90s-inspired grunge, punk, and metal, dashed with that distinctive NOLA spice. The trio's live performances are nothing short of exhilarating, which can be found all over their YouTube page. As a matter of fact, I was excited to interview them after just a few minutes of video watching. Following our chat, I am beyond motivated to catch a live performance. It doesn’t hurt that sharing the stage with iconic acts like Doyle from the Misfits and Powerman 5000 is propelling their rise in the local music scene, and their fan-base is gaining momentum. “ Art Class ” is the latest album from She Might Be a Beast, and it reveals their unwavering commitment and adeptness in showcasing their distinct Neo-grunge style that continues to bewitch their listeners and audiences. Released August 1, 2023 Their creative process is dynamic, with instrumentals and lyrics converging into powerful compositions at the band’s creative hub called "The Maze". That’s where spontaneous jam sessions become the breeding ground for evolving riffs and energizing lyrics that can transform into future hits. The band's future is brimming with excitement, with an upcoming single set to pump us up. They have a drive to provide unforgettable experiences through their music that sets them apart and makes way for an engaging journey ahead. With that being said, She Might Be a Beast's passion and exceptional talent have promise for lasting impact on the music scene. Keep an eye out for their next performance and be prepared, because they ARE a beast! Check out our conversation! MaM : Hey guys, thanks so much for speaking with me today. I have Jake, Julian, and John, correct? Jake : That’s right! We’re pretty excited for the interview! MaM : Cool, so am I! Since our readers are getting introduced to She Might Be a Beast today, and all three of you are here, how about each of you give a brief self intro? Jake : All right. Sounds good. I guess I'll go first. I'm Jake. I sing lead vocals, and I play guitar … And, yeah, I really enjoy playing in our band. I do a lot of the management for the band as well. I couldn't do it without Julian and John. John : What's up? I'm John. I'm a drummer, of course. What can I say? We got good thing going here. We’re really motivated with a level head and a lot of good and interesting material, from our writing to our live shows. Things have been moving forward and progressing, and we’ve really been putting in a lot of work. Julian : And I'm Julian, bassist and mostly harmony. It's such an awesome thing, being able to play music and do it, you know, semi-professionally right now. That's the dream, you know. So, we're having a great time! MaM : Jake and Julian, y'all are brothers, right? SMBAB : That’s right. MaM : John, how did you come into the mix? John : They had another drummer prior to me. He had some complications in his life and kind of wanted to take [a break from] music for a little bit. I met Jacob when he was still in another band called Everyday Addiction. [He] and I met up before the rehearsal, jammed in my space, and got pretty cool with each other. We kept each other's contact information, and once the other drummer decided to take a break, he called me. The next thing you know, I auditioned with them, and I was in the band. Credit: Facebook MaM : Awesome! Sometimes it just falls into place like that. Please, go on … John : Oh, yeah, it was a nice little thing how it happened. But, ya know … MaM : Y’all hit me out of nowhere with a blast of nostalgia coupled with some New Age sounds. How did you find your sound? Tell me about your influences. Jake : Well, we all love rock and roll, and some of our favorite bands are Alice in Chains, Green Day, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. We also mix that kind of heavier grungy metal vibe with the music that we've grown up with. You know, we are all born and raised in New Orleans, so there’s a dash of NOLA spice in there. We see our music as a mix of punk rock, 90’s grunge, metal, and then, like I said, that little dash of NOLA funk. MaM : I feel that! I immediately heard Green Day as one of your influences when I checked you guys out. I kind of even felt some 311 vibes in your instrumentals, with an STP edge. I even heard a little Brandon Boyd (Incubus) with you, Jake, in your vocals. Do you all get compared to other bands often? Julian : Yeah, people tell us all the time … that we sound just like whomever from the 80s or 90s, but it’s always a different band in every show that someone says we sound like. Some nights we get Alice in Chains, and the next weekend we hear Green Day. Credit: Facebook MaM : Do you find it flattering or are some of the comparisons confusing for y’all? Julian : I like it. I mean, if it was just one band all of the time we got compared to, I feel like it would get old. With the variety, sometimes I hear a band that I never even really knew I was very inspired by, but the connections were there. MaM : Tell me about She Might Be a Beast’s peaks and valleys through the industry so far? Jake : I feel like that's a good question for me, because I deal with a lot of the management and reaching out for booking and stuff. We've had a lot of support through a lot of the people we've met in this industry, and the community is really one of the biggest things that propels us to the next level. With that being said … 95% of the people that I reach out to will definitely ignore me. It's just something that happens, but that can't stop you. [Eventually] we started getting onto bigger shows where we’re opening for more famous people. … We actually opened for Doyle, who is the guitar player for the Misfits. Credit: Facebook MaM : What performance that y'all have done so far spoke to y'all? John : We’ve done a couple of House of Blues shows, and this placed called Southport Hall. We played a gig on a Monday night; I believe it was for a band called Cynic. They had a lot of fans there, especially that show, for the opening act. It's kind of a blessing whenever your fan base is semi-growing and starting to get established, but you don't really have to rely on your fans showing up with everyone at that show. You can gain new fans from playing for other people. MaM : How do you get so much energy going before you play? How do you shake the nerves and bring the same intense level every time? Jake : Well, we do really love to jam. It's what keeps us doing this. It's what started us doing this in the first place, and we get really excited playing our music. You're only on stage for a lot of these shows for maybe 30 minutes to an hour. So, we want to leave everything on the stage and give the fans the best, best show possible. They're paying for these shows. So, we want to give them all the energy. We want them to go to sleep thinking about the show and wake up and talk to their friends about how much fun they had. Credit: Facebook MaM : It truly looks like y'all are accomplishing that! So, with things like the pandemic, AI infiltration, and even social media algorithms directly impacting artists and bands, how do you stay motivated to keep pushing through all of that? Jake : You know, that is an interesting one, because it seems like every single day there's another AI to steal somebody's job doing the things a lot of creatives have done for a long time. At the same time, that AI can do some pretty impressive things, there's just no way for AI to replicate human soul and music in writing and stuff like that. I think there's always going to be something special about the human mind and heart when they're putting themself into a piece of work. You know? Credit: Facebook MaM : Absolutely, and you can't match that human experience. So, I am going to ask you my favorite question now. Just hear me out: What came first the chicken or the egg? SMBAB : Um … What do y'all think? I don’t know, the egg. I think it would have to be the egg, for sure. MaM : That’s my cheeky little way to ask you about your writing. SMBAB : There it is! (laughs) Julian : It’s different because there are lyrics that we will hold on to. If you come up with something that you really find to be a good lyric, you hold it. But then we’ll come up with instrumentals separately and pair them sometimes. Most of the time, because we are all heavy on improvisation, we’ll just be in the jam room together and come up with a riff. Usually, the riff comes first when we're playing together, we come up with a song, and the lyrics are usually added after. But like we said, sometimes those lyrics could have been saved from before. We are a musician’s band, so we love playing the instruments … totally playing chronologically like that—writing the riffs and the lyrics all in the same day. Credit: Facebook MaM : What are you currently working on? Jake : We just released our full-length album, ‘Art Class’, and we’re really happy with that. At the same time, we do have a few new songs we've been playing live and a few even newer ones we're trying to write at the same time. So, I think next for us, when it comes to the music, we're going to be releasing a single. It’s going to be called ‘Walk with Me’, and it’s a really, really high energy, exciting rock song. We’re told all the time that people have a lot of fun when we play that song. MaM : Very cool. Well, guys, congrats on the release of “Art Class”, and thank you guys for a dope interview! I appreciate your time! SMBAB : And thank you so much! *cover photo from Facebook For more on She Might Be a Beast, visit them online at www.SheMightBeABeast.com . Erica Machen is a beast when it comes to consuming, writing about, and reviewing music. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 4: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 31, 2023 Share Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. We’re back, folks, with our fourth and final lesson in John Kramer’s philosophical nihilism. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey, and I hope it has at least made you think, along with challenging your perception of the Saw franchise. For today’s blue-collar philosophy lesson, we are going to look at radical nihilism and how John Kramer (Tobin Bell, of Finders Keepers ) fits that rubric. Let’s go ahead and jump in, shall we? Radical nihilism can be summed up as a “destructive” philosophy. What I mean by that is this: A radical nihilist usually has no loyalties, believes in nothing, and sees their purpose as to destroy. This is because they have a dissatisfaction that comes from their recognition that they live in a world where their ideal values will never exist. The “world as it is” is the greatest hindrance to the radical nihilist, so much so that they seek to negate and destroy its inherent moral, religious, and political values so their own can flourish. Now, let’s apply this paradigm to John Kramer in the Saw franchise. Can his ideal of “appreciating life” exist in the world as it is? Another pertinent question we need to raise concerns Jigsaw’s aim: Is it really to change others or to change the world by destroying others? Because, as a radical nihilist, the only way to bring change is through destroying what is. I am going to argue that John Kramer’s goal is not to incite true change in others, but to annihilate others, thus changing the world as is . A good example of this is Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Anger Management ). She is proof positive that Jigsaw cannot change people’s value system. For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise, Amanda is Kramer’s first survivor. She becomes the case study and poster girl for Jigsaw that his therapy “works.” However, as the story unfolds throughout the Saw franchise, it becomes abundantly clear she is not “cured.” Amanda with Jigsaw, courtesy of Lionsgate Kramer then takes it upon himself to retest Amanda. The fact he has to do this proves his methods of rehabilitation are sorely inadequate. Amanda herself even agrees with this failure and says, “Nobody is reborn.” This all takes place in Saw III (2006) and, moments later, is followed up by Jeff’s willingness to kill Jigsaw. Speaking of Jeff (Angus Macfadyen, of Equilibrium ), let’s look at him for a moment, and then we’ll jump back to the scene mentioned above. In Saw III , Kramer asks Jeff to view Danica (Debra McCabe, of People of Earth ) and Timothy (Mpho Koaho, of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency ) as people who made mistakes rather than people who contributed to the death of his son. Jeff ends up failing to obtain this outlook and failing to rescue them from their traps. But not to worry, Kramer, our scholar on humanity, has factored in Jeff’s failure for the overarching game. Danica herself exposes the test’s very premise when she says, “I made a mistake … I’m human.” Jeff, too, is only human, and he will make mistakes leading to the death of others, which he does. Jeff then becomes a synecdoche for everyone involved in the game , including Jigsaw and Amanda. But it goes deeper. Jeff serves a larger purpose. He isn’t Kramer’s test subject, all of humanity is. There was never any chance Jeff’s values or perspective would change. He, like Kramer and everyone else, is flawed by belonging to the world as it is. Let’s jump back to the scene in Saw III with Jeff, Kramer, and Amanda, where Jeff is wanting to kill Kramer. In coming face-to-face with the inadequacy of his own methods, and Jeff’s desire to kill him, Jigsaw asks Jeff, “You haven’t learned anything tonight, have you?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asjTYMUwYTc Like Amanda, Jeff is being retested. And, like Amanda, Jigsaw cannot change his values. The list goes on as we examine other movies in the Saw franchise. Art (Louis Ferreira, of Stargate Universe ) survives his mausoleum trap. Does he learn anything? Has he changed? Nope. In Saw IV (2007), he becomes the head of another game where he dies. In Saw II (2005), Eric (Donnie Wahlberg, of Blue Bloods ) fails his test but not all is lost. He proves his willingness to survive and live by escaping. This should be it for Eric, shouldn't it? But it’s not. He then becomes bait in the same trap that ends up killing Art. All in all, Amanda ends up being right when she states in Saw III , “Nobody changes.” But what about Kramer, the very one who has instituted this form of rehabilitation? A big NO on that as well. Those of you who have seen the movies, recall with me, if you will, John Kramer’s statement from Saw II where he says he is “unfixable.” And there we have it, folks, right in front of our faces. Kramer’s own words scream at us the radical nihilist’s confession of despair. No one is fixable, so the entire damn system needs to burn. Jigsaw is sick and tired of it all. He is tired of the current world-as-it-is value system. He is sick of people not appreciating their lives because of this system. But people can’t change, not even with his method; therefore, it must all be destroyed. Let’s go back to the original Saw (2004) for a moment. There’s a scene in there where Detective Tapp (Danny Glover, of Lethal Weapon ) says to Kramer he is “sick” but he’s not referring to his cancer. Kramer’s response is telling. He states he is “sick of those who don’t appreciate their life” and he is “sick of those who scoff at the suffering of others.” And then comes the ultimate culmination and confession of Jigsaw: He says he is “sick of it all.” To put that in nihilistic terms, he is sick of the world and the current state of existence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_PzaM41xc What about Kramer’s cancer? His physical illness? Does it play a part in this? Oh, absolutely. Jigsaw’s destructive nature displayed in his games is intricately tied to his terminal illness. Thus, the only true change Jigsaw institutes in any of his traps is devastation. The games he subjects people to are not capable of changing anyone’s values. Kramer’s aim is much more simplistic: to destroy the world as is. In closing, I want to examine one more phrase from Kramer that highlights his radical nihilism, and it is probably one of the most important phrases in the franchise. In Saw IV , Kramer states, “If the subject survives my method, he or she is instantly rehabilitated.” Yet, as we have seen above, this is far from the truth. As a radical nihilist, Jigsaw’s values remain intact despite evidence to the contrary, and despite the impossibility of those ideals ever becoming a reality in the world as is. This also answers the question as to why, even if people survive, Jigsaw just puts them in another game to die anyway. It is because destruction is the chief end—the obliteration of the world-as-it-is value system. There is much more to unpack when it comes to the philosophy of John Kramer—so much more, in fact, that even passive and radical nihilism fail to cover it. This means while Kramer fits these paradigms, there are also aspects of him that do not. Those points are beyond the scope of these articles. However, seeing much of Kramer through the lens of passive and radical nihilism does shed light on his madness and gives us a background to understand some of the seeming contradictions that are evident throughout the movies. Before I end, I want to sum up a few things. First, radical nihilism embraces the impossibility of change. Second, when we examine passive and radical nihilism, especially in John Kramer, we see the two are intertwined. Nihilists like Kramer rely on their view of the world as it is being the non-ideal of existence. This is the only way they can understand existence. There is a deep conflict between the world-as-it-is view and the world-as-it-ought-to-be view. Jigsaw’s world view is one where he gives into destruction in order to institute change. He has wholeheartedly given himself over to the belief that people are predictable. Thus, he allows them to be human, to keep their current value system and ultimately doom themselves. There is a deep irony existing inside John Kramer. With all of his destructive games, he still relies on the world existing as it is while also being the source of his own dissatisfaction in life. Because Kramer will never fulfill his goal of total destruction, as a nihilist, his own life will have no purpose either. credit: Lionsgate Entertainment And there you have it, my friends. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little discourse into the Saw franchise, and I plan on bringing you more thought-provoking pieces in the future. Until then, stay tuned for more fantastic upcoming B-movie reviews in my current series What the Hell Did I Just Watch . Catch y’all on the flip flop. Happy Halloween, my friends. Now go watch some Saw movies! Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Old favorites mixed with the new. < Back Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for August 23rd Nick Cline Aug 23, 2024 Share Old favorites mixed with the new. Oh, it's that time again! It's time for another entry into ‘ Nick's Corner ’. This time, I will be throwing some sounds around in your playlist suggestions that wouldn't normally go together. Each song will be drastically different from the last, but they will all bring some great noise to your eardrums. 1 End Zone by Brewster Durbin Deets about the track : First up on the chopping block is Brewster Durbin's ‘ End Zone .’ End Zone creates an extensive indie rock atmosphere washed in synths, pop-driven drums, slightly distorted guitars, and bass riffs that keep you tight into a groove and provides any indie music fan with an atmospheric and enjoyable addition to your playlist. This song is also a nice “middle-ground” introduction to Brewster Durbin's discography, which is based heavily on pop ideology with modern twists ranging from funk, rock, alternative, and indie. 2 Fume Disease LIVE by The Black Smokes Deets about the track : Next, we have The Black Smokes and their killer track, ‘ Fume Disease - Live .’ This track will hit every nerve in your ears, especially if you enjoy crunchy tones and high-energy rock-n-roll. It has reminiscent energy of Led Zeppelin , Aerosmith , AC/DC , but it imbues the classic energy and sounds with the soul of deep south blues. 3 4th of July by Soundgarden Deets about the track : The next entry in your monthly recommendations is full of chugging, dark, and haunting melodic tones. ‘ 4th of July ’ by Soundgarden can be a welcoming addition to anybody's playlist. It is full of screaming vocals, dark and sludge-filled riffs, and lyrics grounding you in the demons of one's mind. This track is one of the deeper cuts on the monumentally classic album Superunknown , but it is one of its biggest heavy hitters. If this track excites your ears and soul, then check out the full album and the entire Soundgarden discography. 4 316 by Van Halen Deets about the track : Van Halen's ' 316 ' is a beautiful and melodic instrumental track from the band's 1991 album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge . It is dedicated to Eddie Van Halen 's son, Wolfgang . The track was made to celebrate his birth, eventually leading to a great album addition. It also makes a welcoming addition to your chill playlists. 5 Wanting You by Gypsy La Blue Deets about the track : The last entry in this month's edition of Nick's Corner is the slow blues jam track, ‘ Wanting You ’ by Gypsy La Blue . This band is a local powerhouse in the blues, soul, and rock scenes, and this track is a standing example of their combined showcase of talent. The vocals are soulful and passionate, reminiscent of exceptional vocalists like Ann Wilson of Heart and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac . The music tackles the same vibe, which adds to the acquired depth of the track. ‘ Wanting You ’ is an excellent addition to your playlist if you are looking for that hit of soul with some rock and blues from the local scenes. This is Nick's Corner's August entry. I'm out! I hope you have enjoyed my recommendations. Until next time! Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Christina Binns < Back Flowers, Glitter, and Resin, Oh My! Nicole Brice Oct 29, 2022 Share Christina Binns You may not have heard of the name Christina Binns in the Art world YET , but you WILL . Putting her entire heart and soul into what she creates, this chicka knows how to merge the aesthetic of beauty and fragility into pieces worth having in your collection and showing off. I first met Christina , or Christi as I know her, when we had an honors English class together freshman year of high school. Christi had some wicked style, even back then, and I can remember her always having the latest and greatest fashions from the Delia*s catalog, which I always seemed to be lusting over. Lucky for me, though, Christi and I hit it off, become best friends, and then I had access to that same great fashion she paraded up and down the halls of our high school. With a knack for combining colors, textures, and styles, her fashion sense trickled over into her artwork, and throughout the years even though we may be miles apart, I have never forgotten how awesome this girlie is, and now, I would like to bring her art to you, the readers of Mixed Alternative Magazine . Art by Christina Binns Recently, Christina and I had a chance to chat, and I threw some questions her way, which she did not disappoint in answering. Get to know this incredible visualist and artist and then check out her work and buy something. You’ll want to buy everything because it is ALL phenomenal. In fact, in choosing the images for this piece, I had a hard time narrowing it down, so when you get to the bottom of this article, you MUST check out her work on social media. Christina Binns MaM : What age did you notice you had the art gene and a need to create? I remember you taking Art classes in high school, but never really asked you about your creations. Also, too, for the longest time, I had all the drawings you made me saved in a drawer at my mom’s house. It’s true. I wonder where those are now. Hrmm. CB : Well, I’ve been creating since before I can remember. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, still do. As a kid, I’d conjure up these elaborate stories & add my own illustrations. I was always doodling. I’m always in my “happy place” when I’m making things, always have been. Whether from my writing or my art, no matter the method, when I’m creating, that’s when I’m most fulfilled. So, to answer your question, the need to create has always been present. MaM : Thinking back, do you remember the first piece of art you ever created? CB : Oh man, the FIRST piece ever?! Where’s my memory when I really need it… well, since I can’t recall the 1st ever (that’d of been at a single-digit age), how about I go with a couple that really stuck with me through the years, both wooden creations. One was to be a box that opened & closed, the other a functioning mobile, with fully moveable parts. I’ll start with the box. Decided I was making a ladybug box, with wings on top that opened to reveal an itty-bitty cavity for tiny treasures & such. So, we all know ladybugs are round, right? Well, cue the naysayers – and I quote, “You can’t make a box round. That won’t work – it doesn’t even make sense!” Challenge accepted and annihilated – BOOM! You know I had to make the bug box & yes, she is filled with tiny what-nots & she’s perched on my shelf in my art room. For the mobile, I made a waving dude, whose arms, hands & head were moveable. Picture an upper body, shoulders/arms on up, cartoon-style, crazy wavin’… I think I gave him a bowtie too. Good times. No clue where he went, but I’m pretty sure I gave him to somebody, maybe my brother – who knows. Wherever he went, he sure was awesome. Both projects were just before I hit my 20’s. While they weren’t early in my art days, they both helped me to really hone in on that imagination of mine. Making these 2 things happen just as I had dreamt up, that only further solidified what I already assumed: If I can imagine it, I can probably make it happen, I can DEFINITELY try! Thinking you can do something is half the battle, so if you truly believe in you, then you’re already halfway there. Art by Christina Binns MaM : If you had to pick one piece as your favorite, what would it be? Give us the deets, sista. CB : My absolute favorites, as of now, would have to be a tie between 2 completely different pieces, both of which are displayed in my home. One is a giant pair of _x_ gallery-wrapped canvases that I painted, embellished with broken glass and added resin to. There’s just something about the soft, muted colors I used, mixed with the sheer size of them. I often stare at them with the same admiration as when I 1st made them & they’re a regular topic of conversation when someone visits. So delicate-looking thanks to the colors & design, yet slightly dangerous, courtesy of the jagged-edged, broken shards of glass poking out from the resin. My other fave is the 2nd cold porcelain sculpture that I ever made. Roughly 100 individually hand sculpted flowers & leaves flow over the edge of an 8x10 gesso panel. I left it unpainted simply because I love the way it looks. Truth be told, I really impressed myself with this piece. It encouraged me to take the plunge into the world of cold porcelain. I was in love… with hand sculpting! Art by Christina Binns Funny story, I stumbled across this medium by accident (or maybe fate, who knows) when making a magnolia flower piece for my sweet momma. I knew I wanted 3D flowers coming up from the canvas but was struggling with what to use to get that effect, that could still be painted. After doing a ton of research & speaking to some other sculptors in the clay world, I landed on cold porcelain, an air-dry clay that’s nearly translucent when completely dry. Picked up the supplies & made the most gorgeous piece with 3 life-size magnolias and several leaves, on canvas that I painted & added a few layers of resin to. I painted the canvas this ridiculously pretty blue, so after adding the resin, it looked as if the magnolias were floating on water. As they say, the rest is history! MaM : So, I know you have another gig to pay the bills, so where do you call home these days and what are you doing when you are not creating art? CB : Currently, I live in Cypress, TX, just outside of Houston. I’m an artist at heart, always, so I don’t really have set hours, since I wear a few other hats as well. I’ve been a licensed Realtor in Louisiana since 2007 (with Realty Executives South Louisiana Group) and in Texas since 2020 (with Fathom Realty). Additionally, I work remotely as a CRM (Client/Customer Relationship Manager) & Email Marketing Coordinator for a Washington state realty firm (since 2019). This side hustle allows me to work on my marketing skills, as well as my creative/content writing capabilities, which comes in quite handy for all those hats I wear. I also wrote a yet-to-be-published book that I plan to self-publish. One of these days I’ll jump off that fence & make it happen! Art by Christina Binns MaM : Give us some info about life over the years and your fave medium to use in creating pieces. It’s been forever since high school even though it seems like just yesterday. CB : I live in the burbs with my wife Sequence & our 2 dogs Cooper (pointer lab) & Cole (Pug). I moved here in 2019 after Sequence’s corporate ladder-climbing landed her in the Houston area. We also lived near Atlanta, GA for a few years, but most of my life was spent in Louisiana, split between Baton Rouge & Prairieville. I worked in retail management for many moons, primarily in shoe sales. When I was in Georgia, I worked in Recruiting for a minute, before eventually moving back to my home state. From there, I was office manager for the Louisiana brokerage I’m licensed with, for a few years, before making the Texas leap. Let’s see, some other facts about me… I’m a damn good cook, I’m a water baby through & through (stick me with my family, friends and all the pups, plop us near a lake/river/beach & let us be, lol). I love a good documentary & I’m still a cartoon fanatic, even at 40. Art by Christina Binns I like my music loud, a bass junkie, if you will. I’m eclectic when it comes to music, I like everything except country. Ok, ok, I do like some country, but that’s a limited category for me. Now, as far as what’s on the turntables, that’s likely to be drum ‘n bass or jungle, a little EDM, a lot of old school rock & rap and the occasional comic relief (listening to Richard Pryor on vinyl is a whole experience). Like I said, eclectic. Being a mixed media artist, I use so many different mediums, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I think my answer to that depends on the day. I can say that I can always get down with a paint session, no matter what’s going on. I’m a painter, sculptor, woodworker, mold-maker, card maker, sewist (seamstress, if you’re old school), wood burner, soap maker and resin artist, all wrapped into one. I’m no one-trick pony, that’s for sure! I enjoy trying new things all the time - I think it keeps me sharp, you know! Thinking outside the box, being open to trying new styles & mediums & being ok with something not turning out as planned… I do these things regularly. Some of the materials I like to incorporate into my artworks: paint, wood, dried flowers, resin, genuine crystals & stones, broken glass, alcohol inks, gold leaf, cold porcelain, silicone, cardstock, gold foil. Art by Christina Binns As far as canvases go, I like to use everything from gallery-wrapped canvases and wood panels, to old scratched up vinyl records. If I can repurpose something that would have otherwise been discarded, that’s a bonus. Giving new life to a would-be trash item, to me, that’s something special. All the vinyl I use are retirees from my personal record collection of over 1,000. I try to keep them in the rotation, pun intended, especially since I have them in such abundance. No matter the artwork I’m creating, if I can reuse something lying around for it, I take every opportunity to do so. On that note, any time I do a paint pour, I make multiple pieces from one single pour. That excess paint can be stretched far, helping me to be more time-efficient in my creative process by cranking out several pieces at once. The same goes with any resin projects. The more I can make with a single batch of product, the better! MaM : I’m sure there are other artists out there you admire. Please tell us who and why. CB : Hmmm… yet another toss-up for this one. It’d have to be between Daniel Popper & Gil Bruvel, both incredible artists, both with a focus on 3-dimensional art. Neither of them ceases to blow my mind with their creations. Daniel has these other-worldly sculptures of massive proportion, on display all over the world, in some of the most breath-taking places. Next time I’m in Mexico, I have GOT to remember to hit up his Tulum sculpture, “Ven a la Luz”. It’s a bucket list item, for sure. Then there’s Gil, who uses thousands of individual wood pieces to create these unbelievable faces, also on a larger scale. The skill & talent these guys possess is unreal. They’re both incredible at their craft. Art by Christina Binns To check out and purchase some of Christina’s amazing art, you can visit her on social media at: Christina Binns | Facebook Christina Binns (@b__christina) • Instagram photos and videos www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Goodbye Academy is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. < Back Goodbye Academy: Bringing Pop-Grunge to the Masses Nicole Brice Oct 31, 2024 Share Goodbye Academy is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. As a teenager from 1994 to 2000, I know a lot about music from that period. Music back then had a certain artistry to it. It was inspiring instead of being spiteful. It was playful yet powerful, but all in all, it had heart. An emerging Louisiana talent named Goodbye Academy is bridging the gap between current music and the favorites of the past with their conceptual and innovative tracks that take risks regarding different sounds and textures. Credit: Gary Governale How would I describe Goodbye Academy ’s sound? It’s a unique blend of pop-grunge with a hint of punk, yet in the grand scheme of things, they are truly alternative. Their sound would have resonated well in the early to mid-90s, and with the younger generations embracing the 90s culture, they are set to leave a lasting impression on the music scene. Goodbye Academy , a Baton Rouge-based group, is a collective of brilliant musicians dedicated to the true artistry of making great music. Their technical proficiency is evident in every note, and their music is a testament to their passion and dedication. With well-thought-out song titles that showcase their personality, reminiscent of the comedic antics of They Might Be Giants , Goodbye Academy is ready to make a significant impact on the music industry. Originating in the Hammond, LA area, but now claiming Baton Rouge as their home base, Goodbye Academy is comprised of Kris Ballard (guitar/vocals), Jake Shaver (bass/vocals), and Chase Chabaud (drums/vocals). The vocal styling reminds me of Jeremy Palaszewski from No Motiv meets Mark Lanegan from Screaming Trees . Credit: Gary Governale Having recently released their self-titled debut album , Goodbye Academy has crafted an album with no filler tracks and nothing but killer . Each song is more unique than the last. The album opens with a well-known phrase from a famous British comedy troupe that I adore: “ And now for something completely different .” Note: When I sat down to interview the guys, this was one of my first questions, and then we went around the table quoting the favorite famous British comedy troupe in our best British accents. There are heavy basslines throughout, too, and I’m a sucker for a heavy bassline. Jake is the classic tale of the need for a bass player turning into a guitar player taking up bass, but he’s pretty good at it and carves out a prominent and dominant sound in Goodbye Academy ’s music. I love it when a bass player stands out, too, like Craig Setari from Sick of it All . I always know a song by Sick of It All when it first begins because of Craig ’s bass playing. I have a feeling that as Jake refines his bass skills, he, too, will be one of those exceptional bass players who will stand out amongst the rest. Jake and Kris met while attending college at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017 and have been inseparable ever since. You could say it was a meeting with destiny, in a sense. Chase is a humble and talented percussionist who combines rhythm into the packaged Goodbye Academy sound. With clever marketing and original graphics drawn by Kris Ballard , Jake developed the band’s brand identity through a unified, visually stunning website with a cohesive theme of nostalgia . Read on below. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Tell us a little about how you came together. A little band origin, if you will. Kris : Well, Jake and I met in 2017 at Southeastern’s Welcome Week / Orientation, and we became best friends instantly. We were hanging out and living in an apartment for a bit. It was horrible. Jake : It was like a 1-bedroom apartment with four people living there. Kris : Yeah, but like 20 people were there every day. (laughter) Kris : God forbid that only four people are in the apartment. (laughter) Kris : I played guitar and dabbled in stuff, but we didn’t really do anything musically for a while. We were messing around with making a song called, ‘ Two Worlds ’, back then, and after a couple years of knowing each other, I ended up writing ‘ Drywall ’ after going through a pretty bad breakup in my room at like 3 o’clock in the morning, with a headset microphone. I put this headset microphone up to the guitar and was playing it. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Hey, whatever you have to do, right? (laughter) Kris : The first version was so bad, and I put it on YouTube . We then started talking about it, so I did a second version, and it was at that point we decided we should actually make music and be a band. Originally, we were going to be an acoustic duo called Up N' Atoms , and we were playing together, for how long? Jake : Two years Kris : We made a couple of EPs, and Jake ended up meeting Chase at his work. He was like, ‘I met this guy at work, and he’s a drummer. We should go play with him.’ I was so nervous, too, when I went to Chase ’s house that I didn’t talk for over two hours. (laughter) Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s a great introduction. I want to play music with you, but I’m not going to talk to you. (laughter) Kris : I was terrified. There were microphones in the room, and every time I would talk, my voice would reverberate. (laughter) MaM : So, you guys share vocal duties. Generally, when it comes to singing the song, how do you decide that? Kris : It’s generally who writes it. MaM : What is more important, in your opinion, lyrics or sound? Kris : We might all have a different opinion on this. Jake : When listening to music, I tend to listen compositionally forward more than lyrically, but when I write, it’s lyrically forward with the composition on the back end. Kris : We’ll often write lyrics before he gets any instrumentation done. Chase : I’m the biggest metal head, so for me, I find the screams are an instrument of sorts , and they’re very valuable to the music. In execution, though, it all must sound right, so I would have to say the sound of the song matters more than the lyrics. Kris : When I write music, all the songs I wrote lyrics for have meaning. They have to mean something personally to me. Obviously, if I don’t like the way something sounds, I just drop the song, in general. I hyper-analyze and dissect all the lyrics first, though. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : I do that with every song. I get it. How would you describe the Goodbye Academy sound for someone who has never heard your music? Chase : This is actually a great segway into that. I’ve gotten a comparison to a genre I was unfamiliar with, called Midwest emo , and Rian stamped us as the genesis of a new genre called Southeast emo . MaM : But I don’t think ya’ll are emo. Chase : Midwest emo carries a similar style, and there are some bands like Hot Mulligan and Mom Jeans that carry the Midwest emo moniker, but it’s funny that we have been dubbed that. I don’t know if I would necessarily embrace the emo narrative either, but I think we carry more pop-punk and grunge elements, but I don’t want to limit what we do either. There is more to explore. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s what I love about your band, though, because you don’t sound like any other band around here. That’s also what I love about Jean Claude Seagal , too. Their sound is refreshing, and that gives you an advantage. Keep the formula. Chase : I see similarities between how we approach music and Weezer . MaM : Love Weezer! That’s a good comparison. See, I would say They Might Be Giants . Have you heard of them? Goodbye Academy : Yes! Chase : They famously wrote the theme song to The Daily Show . I also think we have a lot of influence from Blink 182 with the way I play drums. There is also contrast in our vocalists because of the two different styles they bring. Jake : Someone recently actually described us as sounding like Hüsker Dü . Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s an excellent comparison! What do you guys listen to daily? Jake : I grew up on classic rock. Aerosmith , Led Zeppelin , AC/DC , Pink Floyd , etc. I started branching off into punk , though, and then actually fell into emo and prog. I ran into My Chemical Romance and Coheed and Cambria . Those two influences made me want to scream in my music with introspective lyrics. Get the anger out that I don’t normally express. It helps. Kris : My dad loves 90s music and some early 2000s, too, but bands like Barenaked Ladies , Blink 182 , Papa Roach , Weezer … that whole sphere …all of that was what I grew up listening to and what pushed me. I even loved Simple Plan , too. Jake : Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco , too. Chase : I can’t end this interview without mentioning Meriwether . Meriwether and the bands of The Caterie were huge influences on me. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What is your ultimate goal for this band? Kris : I guess it’s changed over time. The band has always been an outlet for me because I can write down what I want to say better in songs. MaM : That sounds like me when I write my books. Kris : Right? As we’ve come together and have played shows, I’ve decided I would like to do this as a career. I really want to pursue it. I want to go on tour. Jake : I just want to play power chords. (laughter) Kris : I just want to take this moment to apologize to every sound guy that has ever had to check us. (laughter) Kris : Because we take so long. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Where do you say your greatest strengths and weaknesses lie as musicians? Kris : Chase’s weakness is that he’s extremely talented and thinks he’s god-awful garbage. (laughter) MaM : You’ve gotta give yourself more credit. Kris : My biggest weakness is probably the fact that I’ve fooled them into thinking I can play guitar. (laughter) Kris : I will practice the same song repeatedly. I don’t know a lot of chords. I know some scales. I don’t know what key I am playing ever … and then repeat it. My strength, I guess, is that I enjoy writing melodies and lyrics … and it’s in a key, but I have no idea what it is. (laughter) Credit: Gary Governale MaM : My brother – the riff from Blink 182’s ‘ Damnit ’ – dude … over and over … (laughter) Jake : I think my strengths are probably my ear because that’s how I play mostly. I can read music, but it’s not a strength. You’re good to go with your ear as long as you're adaptable. My rhythm hand, too, is a strength. My biggest weakness … I could go into so much … (laughter) Jake : I could pick myself apart. I have to work with the ADHD struggle of not always being able to rely on your ability. Sometimes it’s trying to recreate something you did, but not being able to. I do tend to do that quite a bit. Kris : (to Chase) So, if your biggest weakness is that you hate yourself, what’s your biggest strength? (laughter) Chase : I can combine different genres and musicians with my playing. I turn it into my own unique thing. When this band was a duo, they were melodious folk, and I wanted to make it more rock and roll. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Final question: Where do you see yourself in the next five years, or where would you like to be? Kris : I would like to be in the Midwest … no … (laughter) Kris : As much as I like having a stable income and a place to work that is nice and cares about me, I would like to play in a band as a job. Whether or not that can happen is something that I have low expectations for. (laughter) MaM : No, you need to stay positive. Kris : Yes, we manifest. MaM : Exactly. Jake : Next year, I’m hoping we can play some festivals and see if we can cross state lines to expand our reach. As our kids get older, I feel it will get easier. Chase : I want to accomplish the same as these guys, but I want to get what we have now recorded. MaM : Capture the magic. Chase : We already have the second album, and it's pretty much done. I know we’re approaching it fast, but I want to return to the studio with Nick . Nick Maggio is a phenomenal person. MaM : Yes, he is amazing! Kris : Even beyond his talent, he’s just incredible. MaM : He’s just a good person. Kris : He understands the sound and vibe we want. He connects with the music, too. Chase : I want to get in with Nick before anything is lost or goes further down the line. That’s one of my primary drives. I’ve wanted to be in a band my entire life making music, but I don’t want to sit on what we have. Let’s get this out and on record. More than just a band, Goodbye Academy is a group of best friends united by their love for music and their desire to share their art with the world. Their friendship and camaraderie are palpable in their music, making them more than just a band-they are a community of like-minded individuals looking to bring their art to the masses. Stay tuned for great things from these guys. To learn more about Goodbye Academy : www.goodbyeacademy.com *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

SÖŪP’s music is a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences, serving as a bridge between the past and the present. < Back SÖŪP: A Rich Tapestry of Musical Expression Nicole Brice Mar 13, 2024 Share SÖŪP’s music is a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences, serving as a bridge between the past and the present. Music has always been a powerful medium for expressing emotions, telling stories, and connecting people from different backgrounds. Growing up, I was introduced to many notable classic rock acts, and the complexity of the songs I heard opened my mind and consciousness to new concepts and ideas in a way that pop music could not. Legendary acts such as Ten Years After , Led Zeppelin , and Rush paved the way for generations of rock enthusiasts with a diversified range of intricately crafted sounds, and their legacy continues to this day because of pockets of emerging musicians who are discovering the music for the first time. Continuing the legacy of well-crafted music for the masses out of Asbury Park, New Jersey , is a 3-piece hard rock group with divine creativity called Sӧῡp. With a whimsical and progressive style, Sӧῡp is a group of musicians who have come together to jam and create music spontaneously and organically, and they are proving to be an up-and-coming force in the new emerging face of rock music. Consisting of Harrison on guitar, Monica on drums, and Mercedes on vocals, bass, and keyboards, the band is gaining momentum with its vibrant energy, steady bookings, and clear, concise ideas of what they want to accomplish musically. They are full of ingenuity, drive, and passion, with talent far beyond their years, and have come up with a sound so fierce that it’ll knock you on your ass. Photo provided by band Drawing influence from progressive rock greats Rush and rock legends Led Zeppelin , this trio knows how to command attention with their thunderous presence. Released on January 1, 2024, “ The Captain ” is the first recorded release by Sӧῡp in a series of songs to be released this year and is a meticulously crafted orchestration of creativity, taking you on an epic journey of sound. Mercedes’ range is dynamic and powerful, with soaring vocals reminiscent of the great Cherie Currie of The Runaways , evoking the nostalgia, solidarity, and influence of 70’s rock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL5yBr-0uus Paying homage to the past while embracing the future, Sӧῡp’s music is a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences serving as a bridge between the past and the present, and if I were to describe their music, I would have to say it is an experience to be had with headphones and the volume turned up. The layered textures and sounds take you back to a different time and place and allow for complete escapism. Photo provided by band Mixed Alternative Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with the band recently in between their many upcoming shows, and we were able to have an authentic discussion about the state of the industry, influences, plans, and much more. Take a moment to learn a little more about the band called Sӧῡp, and then be sure to jam out to their latest music on your favorite streaming platform. MaM : Mercedes, your vocals on the new track, “ The Captain ,” are phenomenal, with so much power and passion. It reminds me of Cherie Currie ’s performance on the song “ Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin ." Who do you cite as your ultimate vocal influence, and why? Mercedes : I really appreciate the compliment. I tend to get my vocal technique from a good number of male artists that I listen to. A lot of people do draw comparisons with me and several other female vocalists in the classic rock realm, but truthfully, I have been influenced by Geddy Lee from Rush and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin. MaM : You know the Wilson sisters from Heart were heavily influenced by Zeppelin, too. Mercedes : I did not know that. Honestly, it’s an honor to be compared to many of these iconic female vocalists, but the surprising thing is that I don’t take a lot of inspiration from them. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Were your parents influential in determining your music tastes? Mercedes : That’s actually a common misconception. I grew up listening to current music, but my Dad would listen to a good bit of John Denver , Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons , and James Taylor . As far as classic rock goes, I didn’t know anything about the bands I’m currently influenced by back then. I discovered all their music on my own, and then, when I became friends with Monica, she and I went on to discover even more together. MaM : Take us through a little band history. How did you come together as you are now? Mercedes : Both Monica and I were taking music lessons at the same place, and our music teacher noticed a good bit of similarity between us. He decided to introduce us, and we really hit it off and just started becoming great friends. Eventually, we decided we wanted to form a serious band, and we’ve been working hard at it ever since. The biggest setback has been finding consistent band members to take it as seriously as us. We did not go to school with any musicians, so it was a bit of a trial until we found Harrison because we clicked with him in ways we didn’t with anyone else. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Harrison’s guitar playing is exceptional, too. His tone is so crisp and clean. Mercedes : It’s almost as if Monica and I manifested his existence. We knew exactly what we were looking for, and then he walked into our lives, so it’s been perfect. MaM : What drew you to playing the instruments you play? Monica : So, we had a little issue when we first met because both Mercedes and I played the bass, and what were we going to do with two bass players, right? We didn’t have a drummer, though, so I picked it up, and it’s been about three years. It all clicked so fast, and I never thought I’d love another instrument as much as the bass, but I certainly love the drums more. I feel like I can express myself by playing drums in ways I could not with the bass. I’ve never felt more creative in my life. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I have so much respect for drummers because what they are doing looks so difficult and exhausting. Monica : I will say that sometimes your fingers cramp up, and it is a test of strength. It’s cool to watch yourself get stronger and more capable with it as you progress. I found that the stronger I got, the more improved I got with my playing. MaM : Were you self-taught, or did you have a few lessons? Monica : Both; some things I was taught, but others I just figured out along the way. Photo provided by band MaM : Harrison, how did you start playing guitar? Harrison : My whole family is full of musicians. My dad plays bass, and my uncle plays guitar. They had a band when I was younger, and it got me inspired to play music when I would see them perform live. I was about 7 years old when I picked up a guitar, and I’ve just stuck with it. It’s the only thing I’ve ever stuck with. MaM : I love the tone of your guitar. Do you have any specific gear you use to achieve your sound? Harrison : I really like to use a Les Paul guitar with a Marshall amp and my chorus pedal. That’s my favorite pedal right now. MaM : Who would you cite as your ultimate influence for what you do? Harrison : David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Photo provided by band MaM : Who do you collectively cite as the one band that made you want to pursue music as a career? Sӧῡp : Rush Mercedes : Yeah, Rush — across the board. MaM : Back to your new single, “ The Captain ,” how did the concept for that piece come together? Give us a little backstory. Mercedes : About two years ago, Monica and I realized we wanted to create one big theme with our music. One big concept. We wanted to establish a visual vibe with a storyline instead of just music with lyrics. Looking ahead, we want to create a visually poignant nautical theme with our music, one about discovering new horizons and what is encountered along the journey. “ The Captain ” grew out of that, and we’re in the process of writing the other songs, too, so you’ll have to stay tuned. A lot of our songs are about the ocean and water, ultimately leading to a concept album about a journey. Rock operas and concept albums have always fascinated and inspired me, so it’s just about channeling my inspirations into one big piece as my take on it all. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : How do you approach the songwriting process? Is there a formula you follow? Mercedes : Usually what we do for any song is write the music first. That’s how things came together for “ The Captain ”. I heard the riff first before we had even started writing. I was sitting in my yard one day trying to figure out how to write the song, and I was looking in my notes, and I found a small fragment of a poem about a captain that I had written, but it wasn’t complete. I was able to take that small fragment, though, to turn it into our song, and a few minutes later, I told everyone I had the lyrics done. We then put it with the music and tweaked it and it came together like magic. Monica : Once we play a song live, we usually find more things we want to change. We like to add more flavor here and there, but sometimes we’ll play a song live for many months, thinking it’s complete, but then right before the recording process, we find something else to change. It’s never quite complete. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Where do you see yourselves headed in the future? I know you already have a busy 2024 shaping up. Mercedes : Our main goal is to release music that people will love. We will release singles, but we hope to draw more people to us by getting our audience hooked on a few songs, allowing them to marinate with the ideas, and then selling them the entire concept. We hope to unite people by presenting a new take on a vintage sound. Monica : There’s nothing better than taking a journey with your two best friends, especially when it resonates with people. As Sӧῡp continues to evolve and grow, they will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the music industry and inspire future generations of musicians to push the boundaries of musical expression. To learn more about the band and to experience their music for yourself, visit www.soupofficial.com . *Photos by Jeff Crespi www.jeffcrespirocks.com JEFFCRESPIROCKS See through a different lens! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Unique analog collage displays manifesting as one collective dreamscape < Back Taryn Chase Jackson: Mixed Media Creative Keeley Brooks Aug 1, 2023 Share Unique analog collage displays manifesting as one collective dreamscape The older I get, the more I appreciate art that makes me think in a really outside-the-box way and doesn’t lay it all out for me. While I enjoyed that when I was younger, today I appreciate the mystery and curiosity behind exploring every little detail. I have more life experiences under my nails from which to draw my deeper conclusions and find hidden meaning and interpretation. I appreciated that when I came across the artwork of North Alabama analog collage creative Taryn Chase Jackson . Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson Jackson is no stranger to the creative world. As a child, she was unexplainably drawn to things visually without really knowing or being able to express why. Today, she knows and expresses it a lot over the canvas with her unique analog collage displays of mixed media and assemblage . Her work is nostalgic, full of vision manifesting as one collective dreamscape. Having always identified as a creative person, she currently spends her time as a creative writer, a grant writer, a singer, and an analog collage artist. Her genuine love for her visual craft is seen in the fine detail of her artwork, which is carefully pieced together with intention. It’s easy to get lost in exploring her creations, searching for your own message. It’s harder to pull yourself away from the stories and thoughts those creations inspire. Born and raised in New York , Jackson has lived in Virginia and North Carolina , and she now lives in Alabama. In high school, her work was published in the local newspaper and won a Tri-County Arts Council’s Scholastic Gold Key Award for Art. Since then, Jackson has completed a visual art concentration as part of her bachelor’s degree, and she also holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in creative non-fiction writing. While in high school and college, Jackson says she took a variety of drawing and painting classes and even won some awards, but ultimately, she didn’t love those mediums and struggled to recognize what she did for fun as “real art.” In fact, it wasn’t until she moved to the Muscle Shoals area and joined a group of artists that she became more serious about pursuing collage as a medium. As an analog collage artist, Jackson says she doesn’t design or edit anything digitally. “Everything you see in my work is made of paper I cut by hand and glued down. … My process is less conceptual and more driven by using found images. Personally, I’m overwhelmed by the idea of having literally every image at my fingertips and being able to resize or manipulate them however I wish.” She further elaborates that she prefers the randomness and synchronicity of putting images together in a way that seems natural, and I have to say, I can understand that. Reject the mainstream, forge your own way. We hear that, Taryn. We hear that. "Smile Like You Mean It" (Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson) Jackson enjoys living creatively and avoids specializing, feeling it’s best not to limit yourself as an artist by sticking with one category or genre. Instead, she says, we could be, “exploring, blending, and creating new categories/genres that may not even exist.” She genuinely enjoys making the world a much more aesthetically pleasing place to experience, and that shines through in each of her visual efforts. Recently, I had the chance to chat with Taryn about her life in the arts, her preferred medium, and her artistic processes. Check out our conversation below! MaM : Taryn, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with Mixed Alternative. Please tell us about yourself. TCJ : This is an intimidating question, so here are a dozen phrases that collectively describe me: I’m a creative, grant writer, wife, bonus mom, dog mom, Gen-Xer, double Gemini, bisexual, pagan, elder goth, compulsive collector, and maximalist. MaM : That’s a mouthful, but I like it! When did art come into your life? TCJ : I went to parochial school (essentially being home schooled at church) through the 7th grade, so I didn’t get basic art education until I switched to public school. But I loved cutting up magazines growing up and would save bits of paper or candy wrappers for no reason other than I liked the color or texture. Later, my high school friends and I started a photocopied zine that relied heavily on collage. We also decorated FBs (also known as Friendship Books) with what were basically miniature mixed media ads that we mailed to pen pals to find other fans of new wave and alternative music—obviously, this was pre-Internet! (laughs) I eventually took a variety of drawing and painting classes through high school and undergrad … but I didn’t love those mediums, and of course, I never recognized what I did for fun as “real art.” It actually wasn’t until I joined a group of artists in the Shoals that I became more serious about pursuing collage as a medium. MaM : What has your life as an artist been like? TCJ : I've always identified as a creative person. … The term “artist” is so loaded. Many people narrowly define the term as one for just visual artists or for people who make a living from their work. But creating in the context of a capitalist culture means that we have to unlearn the myths we’re taught and then be brave enough to define our work and its value for ourselves. "Toxic Positivity" (Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson) MaM : Who has been your biggest artistic influence? TCJ : That’s a tough question! Years ago, I probably couldn’t have named a single 2-D collage artist, but I do remember the exact moment I discovered the work of Joseph Cornell , who pioneered the assemblage. And I always felt a kinship with the Surrealists, with René Magritte and Man Ray among my favorites. I suppose there is a parallel in the way they bring disparate, familiar things together to form a cohesive whole that surprises and delights. MaM : How did you find your art style? TCJ : “Style" is one of the great mysteries, I think. Art teachers can really only introduce you to basic skills and concepts, to artists who have led the way, and give you a forum to experiment—but developing your personal taste and style is a process you have to do on your own, intuitively. You build on what works and throw out what doesn’t, and eventually other people will claim that they can recognize your work without seeing your name. But I personally think everyone’s style should be evolving all the time. MaM : While you’re making a piece, what goes through your head? TCJ : I’ve learned that I work best if I think in terms of a series or a theme because it keeps me coming back. For example, in 2019, I started a project based on the 22 cards of the Tarot deck called the Major Arcana. Each card represents an archetype or symbolic meaning, so I tried to find images that resonated with the particular card I was working on that day, then piece them together in a way that made sense to me. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle, except one where you've lost the box that had the final image on the cover, and you have to figure it out. So, sometimes I start with a concept or a feeling, and other times I pull a couple of core images I’m drawn to and see what else might complement or play off of them. I’m often surprised by the final result, and that’s part of the joy. "Solar Plexus Chakra - Gut Feeling" (Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson) MaM : Some of your collages are whimsical and some are more serious. What affects your art process when you’re making art? TCJ : Maybe it’s the Gemini in me, but I do often combine images that seem opposed—the sweet and the dark, the safe and the dangerous—leaving the viewer to wrestle with their own associations and, ultimately, assign their own meaning to the composition. Sometimes my pieces start with a theme or a word/phrase that I focus on to select images and create a vibe. Sometimes I have so much fun playing with different compositions that it’s hard to commit to the final layout. But ultimately, I know I’m on the right path if I can amuse myself at some point. Not every attempt is a masterpiece, but you always learn something in the process. "Gaia's Messenger" (Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson) MaM : In what ways is creating healing for you? TCJ : Creating is the ultimate form of healing, because in the process we’re returning (or attempting to return) to our true selves—the person we were as a child, when we were unabashedly curious and self-accepting, before all the self-doubt and people-pleasing that comes with maturity. If we can successfully tap into that core while we’re creating, we’re headed in the right direction. MaM : Are you frequently involved with local art shows? When and where? TCJ : Since I started submitting my work to exhibitions in 2020, I’ve been fortunate enough to be included in several juried shows at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art and the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts here in the Shoals—as well as at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center in Decatur, AL; Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL; and even the Arc Gallery in San Francisco, CA. Dates for my current shows are as follows: · “ArtWorks" 2023 Member Exhibition at the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art , Tuscumbia, AL (July 22-Aug. 12, 2023) · “Making Waves: Waterscapes in Art” 2023 Online Juried Exhibition by Southern Tier Center for Emerging Artists , Jamestown, NY (Aug. 1-31, 2023) · "Myth in Form” Alabama Women's Caucus for Art (ALWCA) Juried Exhibition, Carnegie Visual Arts Center , Decatur, AL (Sept. 29-Nov. 4, 2023) MaM : Any advice for other artists out there (interested in mixed-media collage)? TCJ : Fortunately, collage is an extremely accessible medium: If you have paper and glue, you can do it. You don’t even need scissors—just tear it! If you supplement it with paint or markers, you have mixed media. Make it 3-D by adding found objects, and you have assemblage. Unfortunately, the idea that anyone can do it is part of the reason some people think it doesn’t belong in the world of "Fine Art.” Historically collage was also something more women did than men, so of course, that counted against it as well. But my advice to those interested is to a.) ignore the gatekeepers, and b.) get familiar with collage artists—historical and contemporary—to figure out which styles you like (or don’t). Follow the collage community on Instagram and subscribe to Kolaj Magazine or other publications that include collage. Imitate one technique and then another. Make a piece based on a particular song or a piece that someone you care about might enjoy. Let yourself get weird. "Forbidden Fruit" (Courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson) With all creative work, every single person—even those with decades of experience—has to start with a blank page. So, the most valuable skill you can develop is figuring out the best way to trick your own brain into creating. For example, if you make excuses about not having time, tell yourself you’ll only work for 15 minutes. If you feel self-conscious, just tell yourself you’re just going to test a new method or technique—anything that lowers the stakes. Of course, then you have to resist the urge to judge, stay curious, and come back and do it all again. For more on Taryn Chase Jackson, visit her online at https://AnySlyEnchanter.wixsite.com/my-site or on Instagram @AnySlyEnchanter . *Cover photo "Liminal Spaces" is courtesy of Taryn Chase Jackson. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Roger Ricks < Back Nothing But Heart and Soul Nicole Brice Dec 7, 2022 Share Roger Ricks If Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits had a band baby, it would be Roger Ricks. No lie. Roger is a singer / songwriter based out of Zurich, Switzerland, but that’s not all he does. He also produces his own music and builds his own guitars, as well as markets himself AND giving the proceeds of his music sales back to charity. Wow, this man is incredible. I first stumbled upon Roger’s music via Instagram, which by the way, is an excellent way to discover new talent because of the visual aspect the medium allows. I often find myself scrolling through bands and artists and liking them, then following them, where I indulge in all they showcase on their profiles. The profiles then lead me to iTunes where I buy their music for my collection. With smooth, clear vocals and crisp, clean guitar work, Roger’s music inspires me. Truly, it does. Because I admire what Roger is doing so much, I decided to reach out to him to get to know a little more about what he makes him tick and guides his stance. With a new single releasing on December 9, 2022 via all streaming platforms, this is one artist you need to check out if you haven’t already. I threw Roger a few questions so I could learn more and was very delighted with his answers. Check it out and then go check out his music! MaM : Wow. I am very impressed with you. Your website is solid, too. Let me ask you, what led you to start producing your own music in lieu of having someone else do it? RR : I started recording my songs when I was about 12. At that time with two old tape recorders and much later with the computer. For me, music production is not a purely technical task, but part of the creative process of creating a song. Since I don't do music full-time and I also have a family, producing on my own allows me to work on my songs whenever I can and want to. Usually this is late at night when everyone else is already asleep and I can really dive into my creative flow. Roger's home studio setup MaM : So, you mentioned you have new music coming out. Tell us a little about the new single you are releasing. RR : The single is called "Lost,” and the lyrics were written by the wonderful Emme Pierre. Originally it was planned that she would sing the song and I would write the music but unfortunately, she lost her voice permanently before the recording due to health reasons, and we decided to record the song with my voice anyway. The song is about how people are willing to exploit others and take advantage for their own profit. This is a topic that always concerns me and is also a well-known phenomenon in show business. There is something energizing and intoxicating about striving for success, but you can also get lost in it and become too distracted from the essentials of life. MaM : Wow, what an amazing topic to tackle via songwriting. I can’t wait to listen to it. What music or things around you are inspiring you to create these days? RR : Musically, I am influenced by the older guitar gods like Slash, Eric Clapton, and Joe Perry. Of course, there are other virtuoso guitarists who can do technically amazing things with the guitar, too, but I'm more fascinated by catchy licks and melodic solos that you can also sing and that release emotions in me. Emotions of everyday life are also what inspire my music. My music is a diary of my feelings over the years. When something is bothering me, I process my thoughts into music and make them audible. Therefore, every song of mine in a way fits to a special event or a period of my life. MaM : I noticed on your website that you play a custom-built guitar. I want to know more about your custom guitars. Was it a particular sound you were looking for and that’s why you decided to build your own? Also, too, what type of guitar inspired the ones you build? RR : I am a typical Les Paul guitarist. I love the full sound. A few years ago, I was thinking about buying a flamed top Les Paul, but my budget didn't allow it. So, I had the crazy idea to build it myself. I always liked craftsmanship and so I watched YouTube videos of Luthiers for hours until I had the feeling that it could really work. I ordered the woods and parts and just started, and it grew from there. I had a lot of fun; it was like a meditation of sorts to grind the woods and in the end, I had a nice flamed top guitar resembling a Les Paul in my hands. Of course, it sounded a little different than if I had bought it but just different, not worse. This only further awakened my passion and since then the tones of my own guitars are an important part of my music. One of Roger's custom guitars MaM : I know that charity work is very near and dear to your heart. Can you tell us a little more about that and what you do? RR : Music has always been a very important part of my life. It has carried me through some really difficult times, and I don't know where I would be without the power of music. For me, music can build bridges, to connect people who otherwise would not communicate with each other and to make a positive difference in the world. I decided to set the goal of dedicating my music to a meaningful cause because 20 years ago, a school friend started an aid project in Ghana to help street children and to really make a difference through local education instead of just transferring money. Honestly, the money often doesn't get to where it's supposed to go or doesn't have a lasting effect, but through "Chance For Children" ( www.chance-for-children.org ), the children are given the opportunity to work out a long-term perspective for themselves. All my proceeds from my music goes 1:1 into this foundation. The idea is that people can donate money just by listening to music. You don't have to open your wallet, just spend a few minutes of your time listening to music to make a positive difference. This makes my music more meaningful and motivates me to put even more energy into it. I really hope that with time, more listeners will stream my music and I will be able to support more projects. For more information about Roger, visit his website at: Songwriter | Roger Ricks Music | Zürich On Social Media, he can be found at: Roger Ricks | Facebook Roger Ricks | Zürich | Facebook Roger Ricks (@roger_ricks_music) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube Roger Ricks - Topic - YouTube Spotify Roger Ricks | Spotify iTunes ‎Roger Ricks on Apple Music www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link