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Strumming Through Struggles to Stardom < Back Off the Charts: Brandon Elder Bud Gambrell Jul 11, 2024 Share Strumming Through Struggles to Stardom Welcome back to Off the Charts . I’m so glad you’re here! I have not had an article out in a couple of weeks because I took some time to rest and clear my mind. For the most part, I took June off from writing and photography. Everyone needs a break, even me! When I began this column, I jotted down some names of people or bands I would like to introduce you to. The name Brandon Elder was on that list! I was first introduced to Brandon’s music in March of 2024 when I had an assignment to shoot the Conference USA basketball Championship. The Von Braun Center hosted three nights of local entertainment as part of the celebration, and Brandon happened to be playing the Friday Night show. I had heard the name Brandon Elder while researching my book on Side Tracks Music Hall . Of course, now I wish I had seen him perform at Side Tracks . After hearing him for the first time in March, though, I became a quick fan. I didn’t get a chance to meet Brandon face-to-face at the concert in March, but we did chat via messenger on Facebook, where I messaged him a couple of the pictures I took that night. For this interview, I met Brandon at Big Spring International Park in downtown Huntsville . We sat and talked about him and his musical journey. I now know him better, and soon, I think you will, too! My first question, of course, was to dig deeper into who Brandon Elder is, so read on below. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : For those who may not be familiar with you, tell me a little bit about Brandon Elder. BE : I’m 29 years old and from Union Grove, Alabama. I started playing music about 7-8 years ago and just started writing and working on songs, and it just went from there. Then, I just started making a career out of it. I love playing music! I love all my fans and am excited for the Alabama Smoke Show coming up here on July 26th . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2x7TQMG0Ec OTC : I saw that you were a contestant on American Idol . Tell me a little about that experience. BE : So, American Idol was cool! It was my first time on an airplane in LA, so all the firsts were fun! The TV part was a little weird, but I had a good time with it. You know, I’ll go back tomorrow! American Idol was awesome! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgA9nEDQo_I OTC : I watched the video of your audition in 2018. You played an original song called Gone. At the end of the song, the judges compliment you pretty much. What did that feel like? BE : It was excellent! It was nice for multiple reasons. It was the second song I've ever written. I had been playing guitar for maybe a year, so it was nice to get those compliments early on in my career, especially those they gave me about my songwriting. I think that's one of the reasons why I will probably continue to write as much as I do. Getting compliments from people like that makes you want to work even harder for it. OTC : One of the judges was Alabama native Lionel Ritchie . When he compliments you, this has to build your confidence slightly. Tell me how that felt. BE : For sure! And it's incredibly cool coming from him since he is from Alabama. I also cover about three or four of his songs in my set. I've always been a big fan of Lionel . So, it was cool! It was nice to get their compliments and be in the same room with them for a little while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGnXZN7BN1w OTC : There are several ways that you perform your songs. It can be a solo acoustic, or it could be a full band. What is your favorite way to present your original songs? BE : I mean, I like playing with the band. I like it with the acoustic guitar, and I do a lot of shows with my fiddle player. Most of the time, my favorite way to perform my original songs would probably be like me, with another guitar player being more acoustic. I would say it's probably my favorite because most of the stuff I write is not party songs. It's hard for me to write those, which I have some, but it's hard to write the drink-a-beer song or the party songs. A lot of times, when I'm writing, it's a little deeper. It’s deeper than just the beer song or the whiskey song. But most of the time, it's just me and an acoustic guitar—either me and a guitar player or a fiddle player. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Being a songwriter, where are you hoping your songwriting takes you? What's your next step? BE : The next step is to continue putting pen to pad. I would say keep doing what I'm doing and see where it goes. You know, doors open, and you hop through when they open and see where it goes. That's all you can do. OTC : Tonight, as a songwriter, you sit down to write a song with anybody you could pick; who would you write that song with and why? BE : Oh boy! That’s a tough one! Chris Stapleton would be up there for sure. Drake White , an Alabama boy. Jamey Johnson , another Alabama player. I guess the reason I think I gravitate most to those guys is because a lot of the stuff that they write is about a little bit of everything. But most of the things they write are not just about the party stuff. It's more about real-life things, and it just seems more heartfelt. So, I feel like all three guys aren't trying to write for the radio. They write what they want, and if people like it, cool. And if they don't cool. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : You’re a local musician, and you’ve gotten to play onstage at the VBC Mars Music Hall . How does it feel to be playing on the big stage? BE : Yeah, it's always fun to get on big stages like Mars because of multiple reasons. It's just a change of scene for one. And then, often, when you're opening for more significant acts, your set is condensed. Some people may think that's a bad thing, but I look at it like, OK, I have 45 minutes to give it the best I've got. You know, I get to get up and sing my songs for 45 minutes and maybe sprinkle a cover or two in there, but I'm not just singing other people's songs all night. So it's nice! It allows you to showcase what it is, who you are, and what you want to do as an artist. It also gives you a chance to let the people in the crowd get to know who you are, not just as an artist but also as a person. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : On July 26th, you once again get to get up onstage at Mars Music Hall . This will be a part of a local showcase. Are you looking forward to that? How do you feel about that show? BE : Yeah, it's going to be great! I know everybody on the ticket so that it will be great fun! All of us are never together at the same time, so it's going to be fun to get up there and have a good time with all the guys who are trying to do the same thing I'm trying to do and make a show out of it and get some people there and have some fun. OTC : There will be a lot of local talent on that stage. Does that give you some extra motivation to get up there and show out and do your best? BE : Absolutely! I guess it gives me some extra motivation, but at the same time, I give my best all the time. I don't want to say it will be just another night. It's not going to be just another night, but at the same time, I give it my best, no matter if I'm playing at Mars Music Hall or Moe’s. I will go up there and do my thing anyway, no matter what. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Is there anything you want to say to a prospective new fan reading this right now? BE : With me, you get what you get. I hope that everybody likes what they hear. Ultimately, I'm not trying to change for anybody, and I hope to see you at the show I am putting on soon. OTC : Where can we find your music? BE : You can find it on Spotify and Apple Music . I think it's on like 50-something streaming platforms. It's in the works to get in the studio in the next month or so and start putting out some of the stuff I've been working on to the public. We will try to get in there and get some new music out for people because I haven't put anything out in a little while, but just because I haven't put anything out doesn't mean I haven't been working. We will try to get some new stuff out for the fans and see where that goes, though. Credit: Bud Gambrell I enjoyed talking with Brandon . We could have sat there and talked for who knows how long. But we had to go. Brandon had a rehearsal for an upcoming gig, and I had to get home and start writing this article for you. If you are in Huntsville, I highly recommend attending the Alabama Smoke Show on Friday, July 26th, at Mars Music Hall . Brandon will perform his songs along with several other local bands. It will not be a night to be missed! Click the picture to learn more! I hope you enjoyed this latest article for Off the Charts . I have a couple more interviews in the works, so be on the lookout for those. For now, please email me and let me know your thoughts. Feel free to tell me what you liked or disliked. Tell me about any bands you know and love and think others will. Until next time, Keep your diamond in the groove! Where to find Bud: Email: the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com 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. Amazon : https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell To learn more about Brandon Elder: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/brandoneldermusic/?hl=en Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/brandoneldermusic/ Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/2xiJP2U4qbFDWoD9ebOpZA Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/artist/brandon-elder/1004631456 YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/c/BrandonElderMusic *cover photo by Bud Gambrell Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Reviving Britpop < Back A Wave of Nostalgia: The Clifftones Nicole Brice Feb 22, 2023 Share Reviving Britpop Ever so often, I will stumble upon a musician whose sound truly resonates with me all the way to my soul. This holds true with Boston singer/songwriter, Scott Clifford. Scott goes by the handle “The Clifftones” on Instagram, but he is a one-man show. He sings, he plays guitar, he makes his own promos, he produces and records his own music, AND he is one awesome guy. A fellow Veteran of the armed forces, such as myself, when Scott and I first connected, we were able to talk military, and that was initially how the conversation started. Scott served in the 82nd Airborne Division overseas in Iraq but has since ended his enlistment. His smooth, soulful voice is truly beautiful, though, and it puts me in such a calm space. I am certain it will do the same for you. Over the past few years, Clifford has released several original singles, but with his latest release, he has decided to pay homage to those who have inspired and influenced him since adolescence. “The Exchange St. Sessions” EP is available March 1st via all streaming platforms, and I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy. It has been on repeat for the past two weeks. This EP of cover songs is hauntingly beautiful and gives me the chills … the good kind you get when the music is truly special. With Scott’s renditions of such classics as “Fade into You” by Mazzy Star and “The Drugs Don’t Work” by The Verve, it’s as if I’m hearing this music for the first time. With a voice that is a cross between Ryan Adams and Tom Waits, I insist that everyone give a listen to his newest release launching soon. You will thank me; I’m sure of it. Scott and I sat down to have a lengthy discussion recently about his music, his career in the Army, and just everything in general. Take the time to read about this incredibly talented man, and then go check out his Instagram for everything Clifftones related. MaM : Good Morning! So, how’s it going? SC : It’s going alright. I was actually going to crack a joke with your text that said, “Alright, I’ll call you at 11:15.” I was going to say, “I don’t know what unit you were in, but it’s 11:18 here already … and then I realized you are an hour behind me.” (laughs) MaM : I forget that I’m in a different time zone from others sometimes, being in no-man’s-land Louisiana. (laughs) SC : At least people are polite there. MaM : Well, kinda sorta. My family isn’t from here. Dad is from San Diego and mom is from Ashtabula, Ohio, so I’ve always been the odd ball, but let’s get this started. First, I love your accent. I know I probably have a southern accent from being down here. (laughs) SC : Well, I wouldn’t say I have a thick one, but I wouldn’t say you have a thick one either, but now, if I have a drink, it really comes out. (laughs) MaM : So, I know you had mentioned prior to this that you were in the military. 82nd Airborne? SC : Yep, so I was stationed at Ft. Bragg and did basic at Ft. Benning and then did AIT at Ft. Gordon. MaM : I did both my basic and AIT at Ft. Jackson. SC : What was your MOS? MaM : It started out as 71 L, but when they did some restructuring, the nomenclature changed to 42 L, but no matter what the number was, was always a clerk. I think I processed more Article 15's than anything. It was as if someone was always in trouble. (laughs) SC: I was a Commo guy. I laughed when you had mentioned the “E-4 Mafia” when we spoke another time. MaM : It wasn’t like the opportunities weren’t there to advance past E-4, but I was happy with my MOS, so I figured, why change it just to gain rank. So, I was E-4 my entire military career and I like to say we knew stuff, but we didn’t want the responsibility. (laughs) SC : Oh, I’m one of ya. (laughs) Yeah, after my 15-month deployment to Iraq for the surge, I just didn’t really care about advancing. I got home from my deployment and just wanted out. That was in 2010, though. It’s been a while. MaM : Same. Ok, so let’s talk music. I could talk military forever. Give our readers a little more background info on you. SC : I am Scott Clifford, and I’m 38 years old. I live in Boston, Mass., and I’m inspired by Rock music, and from an early age always wanted to emulate my favorite artists. I like being able to convey feelings, thoughts, and experiences through music. It’s an outlet for me. While I’m from Massachusetts, I’ve lived and travelled all over the world. I am an 82nd airborne combat veteran, as we already spoke about, and while I’m glad I’m out, I am glad I served. Fun fact: While in Iraq, I managed to get ahold of a guitar and laptop, and in the rare event we had free time, I would make spoof songs with my friends and fellow soldiers. I made a song called “365 in the 325” (325th Infantry Regiment) where me and some of the other guys would sing about the monotony while serving and various broken promises our unit/leadership made. After my time in the military, I studied towards a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree in the United Kingdom. I loved living in the UK, and the music scene there was incredible. MaM : When did you first get the itch to make music? SC : The first time I recall music registering in my brain as something fun to do was when I was around four or five years old. I remember my grandparents having an old electric keyboard. I can recall slowly playing the piano from the highest note to the lowest, all the while daydreaming about a little red riding hood storyline in my mind. I really believe this is where I sort of picked up or wired my brain for melody. With every note, I associated a feeling and a picture in my mind. I still do! MaM : Name one influential person in your life who you can credit with putting you on your path to making music. SC : I was lucky as a kid. I remember my dad realizing that I was starting to care less about sports and more about music. He bought me my first guitar. That’s when I realized I didn’t just want to be a fan of music but also someone who creates music as well. Because of my age, I had just missed the Grunge movement, and then here comes this Brit-Pop stuff, which you know I love. In fact, I ended up talking to one of the Gallagher brothers. There is a third one, who is not famous, and he found me on Instagram a while back, and he said to me, ‘You know what your problem is?’ And I’m thinking, ‘Oh, here we go …’ (laughs) He says to me, though, ‘You’re not doing anything new.’ I’ve had so many people say that I’m stuck in the past with my music, but if I sound 80’s, 90’s, or even 60’s, I take that as a compliment. MaM : Well, you know what they say: What was once old will become new again. That’s just the nature of the game. What is your favorite type of music, and who is your favorite artist or musician? SC : My favorite type or genre of music? I’d have to say it is Alternative Rock with a solid Pop leaning. By that I mean everything I’m writing now is heavily based around hooks and a verse/bridge/chorus-sort of structure. Not only do I want the songs to be catchy but also meaningful with the lyrics (the hard part). One of my favorite musicians would have to be Noel Gallagher of Oasis, obviously. The way he crafts a song is often simple but so melodic and anthemic. MaM : What is one of your most memorable live shows you have played? SC: Live music … my experience playing live consists mainly of small pubs and open-mic nights. One of my favorite times playing was while I lived in England. A few of my friends knew I played the guitar and volunteered me to play. Learning all those Oasis songs as a kid paid off that night! MaM : Where do you see yourself headed in the future as far as your music career? SC : Well, so far, it’s looking like an eventful 2023. I’m releasing the acoustic five-track covers EP followed by an Originals EP. I’m also in talks to collaborate with an electronic artist from Europe (trying to push myself out of my comfort zone a bit) and possibly creating the soundtrack for an indie film set in NYC, not to mention planning some live dates and limited run merch for the upcoming EP. Exciting times! I’m still navigating the world of Indie music, but I’ve been fortunate to have had some talented musicians and artists reach out to talk about my work. It’s beyond flattering and tells me I’m on to something. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_59a03b7d4ac641a0bec0c110e048e560/720p/mp4/file.mp4 To check out Scott’s music, be sure to follow him on Instagram and then download “The Exchange St. Sessions” EP out March 1, 2023! The Clifftones (@clifftonesmusic) • Instagram photos and videos The Exchange St Sessions (2021-2022) by The Clifftones - DistroKid Music | The Clifftones - Scott Clifford | BostonMA Spotify – The Clifftones TheClifftones (@clifftones) / Twitter *All photos provided by the artist* 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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A little bit Riot Grrrl mixed with female sensitivity < Back Candace Schur: Rock’s Next Big Female Powerhouse Nicole Brice Aug 7, 2023 Share A little bit Riot Grrrl mixed with female sensitivity Growing up as a teen in the 90s, I idolized musicians such as Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo , Gwen Stefani , Lisa Loeb , and Monique Powell from Save Ferris . Their vocals were powerful, their lyrics were poignant, and their style was unmatched. One could even say they encompassed the softer side of the Riot Grrrl aesthetic by showing vulnerability and femininity. In a nod to revisiting that period, new generations of female musicians are taking the reins and paving the way for this latest wave of 90s nostalgia currently hitting us, and one female lead has such a strong presence that I feel she will be the one to reignite the female powerhouse movement in rock music. Her name is Candace Schur . Credit: Jeff Crespi With beauty that rivals Debbie Harry from Blondie, Candace is a hair stylist by day and a kick-ass frontwoman by night. She is gorgeous, fierce, and strong. Her beauty is not just surface level, though. No, her beauty lies also in her lyrics and delivery of her songs. Her energy is so intense that you can feel it radiating as she sings. Her songs are ones I could envision myself as a teenager singing along to in my room when feeling despondent and alone. Credit: Jeff Crespi With intricately constructed tunes showcasing themes of angst and redemption, Schur is the lead singer of the indie grunge/alt band Candy Cavity out of New Jersey . I was fortunate to learn of her music recently from a friend and one listen was all it took; I was instantly hooked. With songs such as ' Not Over It ', which talks about not being able to move forward after a break-up just yet, Schur writes from a relatable perspective about love and loss. We’ve all been there … break-ups. They are terrible and they gut you, but from the teenage girl's perspective, they are traumatizing. ' Not Over It ' is truly the perfect song to be the soundtrack for a love lost in the wildly formative years of adolescence. Credit: Jeff Crespi On another favorite track of mine, ' What You’re Missin ’, the sexy and fierce lyrics make you want to say, “Ya know, I could kick your ass if I wanted to.” The song is upbeat and fuzzy and in-your-face rock. I wanted to learn more about the woman behind the music, so I reached out to Candace . She and I had the most enjoyable conversation and I instantly connected to her free spirit and vibe. Check out a little bit of our conversation below. MaM : Thank you so much for talking with me today. Your voice is incredible, and I love your look. It all just goes together so well. What year did the band form and how did it initially come together? CS : My first band I was in was called Girl , which I formed with a boyfriend at the time. When the band broke up, he took the drummer and I took the bass player, who was also a drummer, too. After that, I had to change the name of the band, but I was the core holding it together. I decided to call the band Candy Cavity . The name of the band had been stored in my memory from math class my sophomore year in high school when I’d be sitting in class just doodling pictures of me fronting an all-girl rock band. It just popped into my mind when I needed a new band name. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, what year did Candy Cavity actually form? CS : 2018 – I can’t remember if our first show was in 2019, though, but it was definitely 2018 when the band formed. MaM : As far as your vocal styling goes, I love your singing voice. It reminds me of Brody Dalle from The Distillers meets Debbie Harry meets Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo, but who do you cite as your ultimate inspiration for what you do? CS : Growing up, my parents were not big on rock music. My dad listened to mellow 70’s rock—more so like Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young —but he also liked Tina Turner and Alanis Morissette . My mom was more into dance and pop music, but she was all over the place, too. I wasn’t into rock until my teens, just because I hadn’t really been introduced to it, so this was in the early 2000’s and punk and emo was big then … bands like Newfound Glory and The Starting Line and Taking Back Sunday . Green Day was huge. Pop punk was big for me and is what I got into first, but then I started playing acoustic music and I played it for a long time, but I wanted to switch to an electric sound. The songs that I started writing weren’t very good, but I started writing songs when I was 13 and I hid out with all of that, but I don’t think many knew I played guitar. I sang in chorus in high school and any opportunity I was given to sing extra, I took it. I joined this church choir, too, just so I could do more singing. I also took vocal lessons, but I knew I always wanted to take my singing to another level. I didn’t want to be seen as a folk artist, though. When I first started, the songs did end up taking on more of a folk vibe, but there was a point where Riot Grrrl bands were a huge influence for me—bands like Bikini Kill and Letters to Cleo . Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I love, and I mean, LOVE Bikini Kill and Letters to Cleo. Kathleen Hanna is an icon. Kay Hanley is amazing. CS : Yeah, I actually saw them not too long ago. I went to the city to go see them. They’re great! Veruca Salt inspires me, too. Good Charlotte , too, believe it or not. I got into them when I was really young. I was always drawn to the band’s energy, and I wanted to put on a show with music that people could dance to and really get into. MaM : What do you say inspires your lyrical content? CS : Life experiences, but I have written some songs that are fabricated. It will start with one idea and then I just build on it. I have this one song called ' Happy New Year’s .' I wrote the song kidding around because I have this cousin who is in and out of jail, but I wrote the song from the perspective of his wife. A good amount of my songs draw from real experiences, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUd31_RQDOE MaM : If you could share the stage with anybody or any band, who would it be? CS : Number one would be Blondie . Number two would be Garbage . MaM : I love Shirley Manson with every fiber of my being. (laughs) Ever since 9th grade of high school, Garbage has been one of my favorite bands. CS : You know who else? L7 ! MaM : Yes! I love L7 so much! CS : I love angst bands so much. But then I also like ones with the glam aspect, too. You know what I mean? Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Oh, definitely! We are so in sync! Where do you see yourself headed in the future with the band? CS : I want to play shows with bigger crowds, and I want my songs to be relatable and honest for other people and you do what you do, and you put it all out there and you go, that’s all good, and great, but how do I get to the next level? That’s kind of where I’m at right now. To experience the music of Candy Cavity for yourself, hit one of the links below! You’ll be locking yourself in your bedroom singing along at the top of your lungs while having teenage daydreams of hot guys. Facebook : www.facebook.com/CandyCavity Instagram : Candy Cavity (@candycavity) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify : Candy Cavity | Spotify Apple Music : ‎Candy Cavity on Apple Music *cover photo 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 wishes she could decorate her bedroom with female musician posters, but she’s pretty sure her husband would get mad. She is always on the lookout for the next great female musician to discover, so 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

Gino V’s unique ability to infuse his compositions with emotion, technical proficiency, and soul will shape and inspire generations of musicians to come. < Back Gino V.: Redefining the Music Scene with Rhythm and Soul Nicole Brice Oct 20, 2023 Share Gino V’s unique ability to infuse his compositions with emotion, technical proficiency, and soul will shape and inspire generations of musicians to come. In South Louisiana, we have a rich musical landscape with bands playing many genres of music. From rock to zydeco to metal and everywhere in between, the market is saturated with talented individuals all looking to showcase their craft to the masses, and in the ever-evolving landscape of music, there are those rare individuals who possess the talent and vision to create something truly unique. When I first stumbled upon the Gino Vallecillo (aka Gino V.), I was blown away because it was unlike anything I’d ever previously heard, and it did not fall into one category. It’s a little bit of pop with a little bit of soul and a little bit of rhythm & blues. To be frank, it’s just good. Credit: Gary Governale Hailing from the town of Delcambre and stabilizing himself as a fixture on the local music scene in Lafayette, Louisiana, Gino V. has made a name for himself with various projects, including being a touring musician and playing in such bands as Sailor Mouth, Random Animals, HoleOpener, and The Band Forgiven. Gino’s diverse range of projects shows he is a man on a mission to be heard and seen. Multi-talented, Gino plays drums and sings, which is no small feat. With unparalleled skills and an ability to seamlessly blend various genres, Gino possesses an innate musicality—one that is sure to leave an indelible mark on the industry. Born and raised in a musically inclined family, Vallecillo was exposed to a diverse range of music from a young age where he absorbed the various musical styles, forming the foundation of his artistic journey that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Having just released two new singles independently under his solo brand with the tunes “Shine” and “Back Home”, we were able to steal a few moments of Gino’s time to chat with him recently where we spoke about the state of the music industry as well as upcoming projects in the queue and what the future holds. Take a moment to read a little more about Gino V. and then be sure to check out his music on all streaming platforms. MaM : Thank you for speaking with us this morning. We did a little research on you, and it is insane how many projects you have been involved with over the years. Tell us a little background and history on you. GV : Well, my full name is Gino Vallecillo, but I shortened it to Gino V. because I’m Hispanic but grew up in Cajun Country. Since people have slaughtered my name my entire life, I figured it was easier for people to remember it this way. They can’t mess up Gino. I’m from Delcambre, which is south of Lafayette – about 35 minutes. I started playing drums around 12 years old but didn’t start playing on a kit until I was 14. I’ve been singing as long as I can remember, too, and I grew up in a very musical household where no one else played instruments, but everyone loved music. My dad is from Honduras, so I was exposed to salsa, mambo, and bachata dance styles early on—a lot of Afro-Cuban stuff. He was also into disco and soul music, so I absorbed that influence as well. My mom was more into rock from the 50s and 60s and also into 90s country, so I have those influences, too. Now, my brothers were the ones who liked hip-hop and R&B, so that kind of changed me. As a youth, it helped me to create the gumbo, if you will, of influences that got me here. Initially, when I first started, I was gigging in hardcore and metal bands from the time I was 14 and 15 years old, and that went all through college. In 2015, I decided to move on from the group I had been playing with for the past six years so I could start doing my own thing. I started trying to fill the pool with my singing again because I had taken a hiatus from it to focus on playing drums. I had been gigging in Lafayette in the heavy scene for a while but then decided to jump over to do more soul, blues, and R&B, which in Lafayette, oddly enough, is divided. You do have a few of us that do kind of catch every genre, but there’s so much out here including zydeco, which is huge. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Obviously. GV : You can go out and see many genres in Lafayette, though, but I started taking the jump to do something different. Then in 2017, I started a band that I had initially hoped would be a dirty blues band, but it wound up taking shape to be more R&B-esque with a little rock influence. We were called Sailor Mouth. For about four years, I was in Sailor Mouth, and then in 2021, I was allowed to go on the road with a national recording act for about seven months. I got to experience the world and travel the country, and it lit a fire under me. Being out there inspired me, and I came across many musicians who had given their lives to other artists with nothing that was truly theirs. People don’t realize it, but the music industry is extremely hard. It’s one of the toughest industries to be a part of because it takes so long to establish yourself. There’s no security either. The best way to establish that security for yourself, though, is to have your own thing to fall back on no matter what. MaM : So true … go on. GV : After coming home from that road gig, I didn’t have my own thing anymore, so with the help of one of my best friends, we were able to write “Shine”. He has been super influential in my taking this next step. For the past year, I have written a ton of music and am sitting on close to 20 songs. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Oh wow, that’s a lot. GV : “Shine” is the first release and I have some more music I want to release. My goal is to just continue to build my discography and try to elevate my brand. I have a lot of cool things coming up. MaM : Do you find it’s more difficult to get your music heard these days or do you feel technology has made it easier? GV : To be honest, I feel it’s a little bit of both. I use Distrokid and with that, there’s a lot of content put out because anyone can use it. I do think that because everyone is using streaming services our attention spans are not what they used to be, and for me as an artist, I don’t think I’ll be putting out a full record anytime soon. It would take so much of my time because I would obsess about every single detail including tracking and flow. I feel like singles are the way to go for me to establish my discography. I do like where technology is these days, but I think we’re on a different playing field than where it used to be with music. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : I can agree especially with the whole attention span thing. I couldn’t tell you the last time I listened to an entire album. I keep my music collection on shuffle, so it’s ever-changing. It’s crazy to think how far the industry has come and to think about how much things have changed. Of all these bands you have played in, are any of them still active? GV : Well, with Sailor Mouth, we are on a hiatus. A member moved and one had a baby and then I went on the road. Our guitarist is the guitarist for Wayne Toups right now, so he’s got that gig. Life just happened. I do still play for a very small circle of people currently. I still play for Ray Boudreaux. He’s a singer from Carencro and was on The Voice back in 2013. I also play for a soul singer out of Port Barre named Sarah Russo, who is incredible. I have a few projects. This is what I do full time and it’s what I want to do. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, mad respect for the fact that you play drums and sing. I’m not gonna lie: It looks difficult. How do you stay coordinated? How did you hone that skill to where you are just rockin’ the hell out of it? GV : Well, I think that it kind of started when I was younger. I was actually rapping and drumming when I was 14. I kind of dipped my toes into the water just to see if I was capable. Getting into the heavy scene, I found other drummers doing it in rock and metal bands. I got into Atreyu big time and Brandon Saller was a kick-ass drummer who sang. Underoath, Aaron Gillespie, another band with one who plays drums and sings. I was always inspired by it and wanted to do it. In 2016, I found Anderson .Paak and was very inspired by him, and I think that was one of the things in 2016 that gave me a kick in the ass when I saw him live because I knew I could do it. I wasn’t where I needed to be because I needed the mic time, but I knew it could be done. You’re not gonna get good at it unless you’re doing it constantly, so I’m always singing. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That leads me to your new song, “Shine”—how did the lyrics come about for it? The entire vibe is so strong. GV : So, I had just come off the road and was trying to establish what I was going to do next. Josh, my homeboy, sent me the basic riff while I was on the road, and I had started messing with it. When I found the time to sit down, the song just poured out of me. The melody hit first and then the words came. The song “Shine” in general, I believe, is my outward expression of gratitude for the love I received from my partner. I went through some dark times in 2020 and I would have never gotten through them without my partner in my corner. So, the song is essentially that, but I think it’s up to interpretation, you know? It could be whatever that light in your life is, whatever that thing is that you can cling to that kind of pulls you out of the darkness when it doesn’t really feel like that’s possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq7mIvKU-Gs MaM : I can definitely resonate with that. You said for the rest of the year you plan to release singles, but what are your goals for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024 and beyond? GV : I want to continue to release music and I would love to do more on the local festival circuit. I’m going for Festival International next year here in Lafayette. I’d also like to do more road gigs … maybe travel through the Bay St. Louis area, maybe Mississippi, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and then go through Texas. The biggest thing for me right now is elevation. I want to take what I’ve been doing and do it on a new level. As Gino Vallecillo’s musical journey continues to evolve, his future projects will undoubtedly push the boundaries of contemporary music even further. His unique ability to infuse his compositions with emotion, technical proficiency, and soul will shape and inspire generations of musicians to come. To check out the music of Gino V., just hit one of the links below! DistroKid : Shine by Gino V. - DistroKid Linktree : ginovmusic | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree *Cover photo 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? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Adventures of Pecos Hank < Back Dark, Moody, Mysterious, and Daring Keeley Brooks Feb 22, 2023 Share The Adventures of Pecos Hank Twenty years ago, when I was in my early stages as an entertainment writer in Baton Rouge, La., I was out covering some local bands when I discovered and fell right in love with a Texas-based opening act called Southern Backtones. I loved their vibe, their presence, their tone, and their music. Not only did the Backtones resonate with me, but they also resonated with everyone else in the room that night. So, I did what any self-respecting writer would do and walked right up to them the second they came off the stage. And I’m glad I did, because it landed me a friend for life in their lead singer, Hank Schyma. We bonded over our love for bands like Pulp, Radiohead, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Portishead, and over our love for film—specifically the movie Clay Pigeons . (Shout out to my fishin’ buddy!) Schyma, now widely and most popularly known as Pecos Hank, is really one of the most unique individuals you’ll ever meet. He’s quite the popular singer, songwriter, musician, photographer, videographer, filmmaker, and snake charmer/wrangler on several scenes, but that’s not what makes him unique. It’s who he is at his core and his authentic perspectives, as well as his genuine kindness, that leave the lasting impression. His music deeply expresses a lot of who he is, which is a southern badass with a big ole heart. credit: Jay Dryden Oh, did I mention he’s also a professional tornado chaser? Because, for real, he is. He’s the kind of tornado chaser you might’ve seen in the 90s cult classic disaster hit Twister : in love and obsessed with tornadoes, daring to get up close and personal with them, and passionately unafraid yet deeply respecting of one of Mother Nature’s most powerful storms. When he isn’t Hank the musician or videographer or photographer, he’s Hank the tornado chaser and storm expert. Pecos Hank with a giant twister on his tail. Not only is Schyma talented at what he does, but he’s also very passionate about it. Dude spends half the year tracking storms and chasing one of Earth’s most stunningly terrifying energies, and he’s highly sought-after for his footage and live reports during tornado season by many news and weather outlets, including The Weather Channel. He also reports to the National Weather Service when other chasers don’t beat him to the punch. He has also served and continues to serve as a storm consultant on major motion pictures—most recently on Supercell , which is an upcoming disaster movie releasing March 17, 2023, starring Alec Baldwin, Skeet Ulrich, and the late Anne Heche. Not only was “a boatload” of Schyma’s tornado and lightning footage used in the movie, but also two of his tornado pictures were spliced together to create the image seen on the movie poster. The poster image originated from these two photos of Schyma's: credit: Hank Schyma Videos of his are littered throughout the trailer and movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Cs2DlZ15g Hank witnessed his first tornado in 2002 and captured the fastest tornado ever documented back in 2014, and on May 31, 2013, he was there in El Reno, Okla., to witness and capture the widest tornado ever recorded at 2.6 miles wide. photo credit: Hank Schyma On May 25, 2019, while chasing and documenting storms in Oklahoma, Hank discovered a specific type of transient luminous event (upper atmospheric lightning) called a GhOST, or Green emissions from excited Oxygen from Sprite Tops—in short, green upper atmospheric electrical discharges or green mini-auras. In the photo below, if you look just above the brightest part of the picture, you'll see a faint green hue that casts an afterflow across the sky; that's a GhOST. photo credit: Thomas Ashcraft “I video recorded some sprites over a storm … Later, when I reviewed the footage, I noticed a mysterious green afterglow above some of the larger sprites,” says Schyma. SPRITE stands for Stratospheric/mesospheric Perturbations Resulting from Intense Thunderstorm Electrification. They are large-scale electrical discharges occurring high above a thunderstorm cloud and are often reddish orange in color. Based on their shape, there are three types: jellyfish, column, and carrot SPRITEs. Hank tells me he then teamed up with photographer and SPRITE chaser, Paul M. Smith . “Yeah, this one I’m pretty proud of. [A] buddy and collaborator of mine, Paul Smith, and I discovered a faint green glow that occurs high above thunderstorms after powerful lightning strikes. Think of a random, brief aurora that lasts about one second,” explains Schyma. “We shared the footage with scientists and others on social media. Nobody had heard of it before. Many argued it might be a camera sensor artifact. Over the following weeks and months, Paul captured multiple other GhOSTs at high resolution, silencing the skepticism. This opened doors for us to directly chat with all the real scientist rock stars of meteorology.” The pair worked together to create this educational video explaining transient luminous events. Give it a watch and check out these atmospheric wonders for yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGPQ5kzJ9Tg So, yeah—see? He’s a general badass full of no fear and multi-leveled awesomeness. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, in the Pecos River Valley, Hank formed Southern Backtones in the late 90s with drummer Todd Sommer and guitarist John Griffin. As far as their sound goes, think American Southwestern dark, ethereal, gothic-y rock mixed with lonely echoes and moody twangs so delicious, they’ll leave your mouth watering … but not before they cast a spell on hidden parts of your soul and lull you in by the heart strings. They've often been described by media critics as, “Brit-influenced rock with roots firmly planted in Texas” and “moody voodoo rock that intertwines with Spaghetti Western and devil-may-care rock ‘n roll” ... windswept and gritty. In 1999, the Backtones headlined the Levi’s/Stage Stores promotional campaign with their hit song “ Fallen Angel ” from their first album, Los Tormentos De Amor , a self-described psychobilly surf punk album with cult Spaghetti Western twang. That resulted in the band touring through 80 towns across Texas in the first ever stretch Hummer, playing on top of it in retailer parking lots. Footage from those shows wound up as the basis for the Levi’s campaign and was even featured on MTV. Their second album, Unreleased Studio Tracks (2002), holds three surfy Tex-Mex cuts with vintage tones, and their third is self-titled Southern Backtones and released in 2006. It is pure dark indie rock with a heavy art movie soundtrack orchestration and was widely popular, hailed by Airplay Direct as "a beautifully dark cinematic embracement of Brit-pop and psychedelia in a philosophical search for more bohemian influences." IT IS SPECTACULAR. All of its songs longingly ache for a movie to come along and do dark justice in playing out their premise. They’re dark, bold, sexy, and mysterious. Tunes “Forever” and “Everything” were featured in the 2005 indie feature film Drop Dead Sexy with Jason Lee and Crispin Glover, and the music video for “Forever” saw regular rotation on MTV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSlcKZj3gCQ Personally, my favorite song from their self-titled album is “Glamorous.” Because I love it (and you) so much, click the image below to hear the siren song, but be careful: You will be compelled to listen to it twice, then you'll be compelled to listen to the entire album on repeat. I promise it's just as sexy and menacing and alluring as “Glamorous” is. (wink) Over the years, Southern Backtones evolved and now consists of Schyma, Sommers, and a pretty bitchin’ viola player named Jo Bird the Fiddle Witch , one of the founders of Two Star Symphony , Houston's best-known creators of contemporary classical music for more than a decade. Schyma says of her, “She is such a wicked force of nature, that our whole new sound has grown around her.” She is, indeed, ferocious with a fiddle. Hank recently took some very precious time of his to catch up with me and rap about old times, music, tornadoes, and snakes, as well as what the future holds next for Pecos Hank. MaM: Shit, man. It’s so good to be talking with you after all these years! Thanks for catching up with me. Let’s see, you’re a very unique artist full of many, many, many talents. You sing, you write, you play music, you make videos, you take pictures, you chase tornadoes—I don’t even know where to start with you, so I’ll start at the beginning! PH: Well golly gee, Keeley. Bless your heart. That’s might dern sweet of you. MaM: Ha! You were born and raised in Houston, but do you claim any other areas? PH: Mostly Houston, with a side of Dallas and Huntington Beach, California. MaM: When did you know you wanted to pursue music, and where did the inspiration come from? PH: At age 13, I knew rock and roll was my calling. The electric guitar was the Siren. MaM: Musically, your influences then and now … hit me. PH: The Doors, The Cult, and Danzig hogged my cassette player, until I discovered Elvis. From there, it was Robert Johnson, Chris Isaak, Dick Dale, Muddy Waters, Ennio Morricone, and The Reverend Horton Heat. After a decade of burning out rootsy 1-4-5s, I did a 180 [after] becomingly heavily inspired by Brit-pop. [That was] shortly after I met you [when] we connected admiring Pulp, BRMC, Radiohead, and Portishead over many, many cocktails. Great times! MaM: We did! Those indeed were some great times! So, what kind of success did you guys see over the years, and how has that success contributed to where you are today? PH: Success? Ha ha ha! Nobody down here wants to listen to all that shit fused together. So, we thrived in the small dives, making enough money to pay for gas and bar tabs. [Twenty years ago], thirty people packed in the [former] Red Star Bar in downtown Baton Rouge and it was a good night for us. We worked hard, though, and scored some decent CMJ radio airplay on the East and West Coasts. That helped us put cheese on our Whataburgers. MaM: What was the Backtones most popular album? PH: It was always the most recent one, 'La Vie En Noir.' (Click image to listen.) We were inspired to change themes and make something new rather than sound like a broken record. You get sick of your stuff when you play 75-100 shows a year. This disappointed a lot of old fans, but for everyone one we lost, we gained two—including you and (friend) Sam. MaM: I know for a fact (smile) that one of your favorite and most influential groups is the English rock band Pulp. This is Hardcore is one of my all-time favorite albums, and I have you to thank for that. Have you ever had a chance to meet or speak with Jarvis Cocker, and are you stoked about their comeback tour next year? (Click image to listen.) PH: That album was a game changer. I’ve never heard of Pulp ever playing in the [American] South. Nobody down here wants to hear that shit. (laughter) But I bet they could pack 40 people in the [former] Red Star Bar! MaM: Oh, no doubt! So, after Griffin left Southern Backtones, you spent some time in the acoustic performance area, often as one half of a duet with viola virtuoso Jo Bird of Two Star Symphony. Talk to us about the dynamic between you two and how you got together. PH: Jo was always the darkest, most beautiful artist in the Houston music scene. She sat in with all the best bands, while I gawked on the sidelines. For some reason, she still hangs out with me. MaM: Let’s talk about El Reno Blues , which was your first solo album with a new approach. Talk to us about what that approach was, how it was new for you, and how it was received. PH: In a three-piece band, when you lose a member to crack or a better gig, a big chunk of your sound is lost and replaced with another. When we lost Griffin (to a better gig) and replaced him with Jo, we weren’t the same. Package that up with a different brand, and voilà. … Todd (our drummer), being the badass he’s always been, is now also our bass player. We had our first gig as a trio with him on the upright bass last fall 2021. The show must go on. He does have a 9-5 gig and can’t always make the weekday gigs, but Jo can. So, she and I do a lot of duo gigs on the side. Over the years, some magic has emerged from that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR_F0e1UdZc MaM: Tell us what you’re up to today in a musical sense. Writing? Playing? Recording? Touring? Being a general badass, who’ll never forget his super-bitchin writer friend he met 20 years ago? (laughter) PH: We’re currently halfway through a new record. I suppose when that’s done, we’ll have the impulse to tour where we can. Is the Red Star still open? What about the Bayou? Or the Thirsty Tiger? MaM: (laughs) Well, I don’t think they’re open under those names anymore, but the amount of venues that’ve opened up in Baton Rouge is insane. You’d have no trouble booking there. Where are you currently playing, and what can you tell us about BowiElvis Fest? PH: Just the usual places in Galveston and Houston. Fifteen years ago, I started a festival here called BowiElvis Fest . David Bowie and Elvis have the same birthday, January 8, and every year we have a big party with lots of bands playing Elvis tunes, Bowie tunes, and our own tunes. Splice Records has taken control of it, and man, does it swing. MaM: Dude, that’s awesome. And it sounds like so much fun. So, when I met you, you were known as Hank Schyma, but your identity has evolved into Pecos Hank. How did you earn that nickname? PH: I adore and snuggle (and charm and wrangle) rattlesnakes and tornados. credit: Hank Schyma My bestie, Emilie, pasted my face over a cartoon of Pecos Bill (a fictional cowboy and folk hero in stories set during American westward expansion into SW Texas) . He had a rattlesnake for a lasso and was riding a tornado. It was meant to be. MaM: Let’s jump over to your filmmaker status. When did you notice an interest in filmmaking, and how did you cultivate that? PH: I’ve always loved tinkering with video and made a few low-budget thingies, but I don’t think I deserve that title until I’ve completed something more substantial. Texas Honky Tonk legend Johnny Falstaff and I have completed three scripts. The only thing we need now is 10 million dollars. MaM: Yeah, that’s all we need, too. (laughs) I understand that when you were fronting the Backtones, you also directed, produced, and starred in a full-length blood-thirsty indie film. Tell me more. PH: Johnny Falstaff and I spent five or six years making Honky Tonk Blood . It’s a murder thriller that slithered through the Houston music scene at the time. For many of the bands, clubs, dancers, and artists of that era, it's a deliciously crude little time capsule. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_WJM_thk80 MaM: You also did the same with several music videos. I’m all ears. PH: Yeah, [music videos] are only four or five minutes long and don’t take five or six years to make. The time and money spent on an MV that lives forever on the inter-thingie is much more bang for the buck compared to touring. MaM: Now, rap with me about this tornado-chasing business. What drew you to tornadoes, then to chasing them, then to chasing them professionally for multiple different outlets? PH: I was drawing and sketching tornadoes before I could spell it. It began as a dream, became reality, and then a career. Weird, huh? MaM: When did you first get into chasing, and what was your first chasing experience like? PH: I feel like I’ve always been chasing storms. Whether it was just running into the front yard to see the lightning or driving my first car out to the fields for a better view of the coming storms, it’s always been an obsession. In 1995, Hank joined KHOU-TV’s news team working as a camera operator, which gave him the opportunity to work under their head meteorologist, Dr Neil Frank. Schyma gained professional storm-chaser status in 2007, when he was appointed as KRIV’s exclusive in-house storm chaser. MaM: You started photographing and filming your chases and the emergence of these beasts in a most gorgeous light. How up close have you gotten? Any close calls? PH: As close as you can get without your eyes getting wet! (laughs) Sorry, that’s a line from Old Gregg . Please tell me you’ve seen the Mighty Boosh's Old Gregg . Technically, I’ve been inside several weaker tornadoes and had too many close calls with powerful ones. I’m trying to cut that out. MaM: Unfortunately, I have not seen that one, but it’s now on the list! Do you ever get scared while chasing? Has a ‘nado ever shifted suddenly and seemingly come straight at you? PH: The weekly commutes from Houston to [Oklahoma City] are way more terrifying than tornadoes. I’d guesstimate [that] every 25 times I piss my pants almost getting killed by a distracted driver on I-45, I piss my pants from one tornado not doing what it’s supposed to be doing. MaM: What’s the most frightening tornado-chasing experience you’ve had? PH: It’s hard to compare that time you almost died with that time you almost died. The most recent was in 2019, when I accidentally positioned in front of a rain wrapped around [a] ¾-mile-wide beast. You think to yourself [that] any second now you could be rolling or flying. MaM: Talk to me about these weather, science, and nature documentaries you’re creating, and what kind of twist should we expect? PH: I can’t tell you the twist, that would ruin it. (laughs) For those interested, you can visit his Pecos Hank Patreon page and subscribe to watch his weather, science, and nature videos. MaM: You also create zoology and geography videos as well. Do tell. PH: Whatever neat-o thing I stumble across, I hope to document well. Whether it’s auroras over Russia or whales in Tahiti, I love it all. MaM: How is a typical year split up for you between music and chasing? PH: I’m always torn between music, critters, and storms, but lately music and critters are only getting the leftovers. Half my year is dedicated to capturing severe weather. To all my loving fans around the world, keep your Covid away from me! (laughs) MaM: You print and sell your photos of your tornado-chasing experiences. Have you seen a big demand to snatch up your shots? PH: It can always be bigger. photo credit: Hank Schyma photo credit: Hank Schyma MaM: Tell us where all you chase, how you decide where and what to chase, and what happens after destruction settles? What do you and your team do? PH: Most of the time, I chase alone anywhere from North Dakota to South Texas, Thailand to Australia. For two weeks a year, I join Dr. Anton Seimon’s scientific field operations team hoping to gather data that helps us understand [more about] tornadoes. Anytime we see destruction where human life may be impacted, we try to assist any way we can. Sometimes it’s just letting victims use our phones, and other times we are driving them to hospitals. MaM: Will you ever stop playing music or chasing tornadoes? PH: Only if I’m physically incapable. MaM: What’s the harmony you’ve found between making music and chasing tornadoes? PH: I score all my nature videos with my own music. Who’da thunk you’d sell way more records chasing tornadoes than touring? MaM: What’s next on the Pecos Hank agenda? PH: It’s 6 a.m. Time to go to bed. MaM: Okay, okay, haha. Tell people how they can find and keep up with you? PH: Just google 'tornado.' And he’s not kidding. Pecos Hank is everywhere accompanying the word tornado . For more on this music, snake, and tornado-wrangling cowboy, and for more on Southern Backtones, you can find all your heart desires by stopping by any of the below-listed sites. www.PecosHank.com Youtube @PecosHank Instagram @PecosHank Facebook @PecosHankOfficial Twitter @PecosHank Youtube @SouthernBacktones Instagram @SouthernBacktones Facebook @SouthernBacktones 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

If you're on the fence about it, check out these top 5 reasons to see "Napoleon". < Back Reasons to See Napoleon: Feast Upon This Keeley Brooks Nov 13, 2023 Share If you're on the fence about it, check out these top 5 reasons to see "Napoleon". It’s no secret I’m a big fan of historical adaptations. What I love most is the opportunity to experience a certain time period through different perspectives. Some of those perspectives are as historically accurate as possible while others are merely loosely based on a certain era. With Ridley Scott’s heavily anticipated Napoleon adaptation releasing soon, it’s safe to say we can gear up for a picture that’s as historically accurate as possible and just as rich in atmosphere. The film—guaranteed to be an epic masterpiece —stars Joaquin Phoenix ( Joker ) as Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby ( The Crown ) as the Empress Joséphine and is based on Napoleon’s astonishing life, offering an intimate portrait of one of history’s greatest military leaders. If you’re unsure about it, here are my top five reasons why you should see Napoleon . #5 : Deep Dive into Napoleonic History Given that Ridley Scott has expressed clear interest in Napoleon as a historical figure and this is his second go-around with the Napoleonic era, we can expect as accurate a depiction as possible. With 2023's Napoleon , not only are we getting a deep dive into the events surrounding one of the most mythological military commanders ever, but we’re also diving into the effects of his tumultuous private life , giving us as close to a personal look at the emperor’s private life as possible. During the French Revolution, Napoleon rose rapidly through the military ranks and, as a general, seized power in a coup d’état in 1799. He then crowned himself leader. Next, he set out waging war against European nations and expanding his powerful empire, all while embroiled in an intense romantic battle with Joséphine, which ultimately served as the force driving him to conquer the world. Over the course of a single decade, Napoleon led a revolutionary French army against the other great powers of Europe and succeeded, even bringing down the Holy Roman Empire. After tearing across Europe for a time, his career finally came to an end in 1821 on the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died at the age of 51. Scott reportedly will make Napoleon’s romance with Joséphine the center of his movie—an aspect often overlooked in previous Napoleonic adaptations. Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix as Joséphine & Napoleon. (credit: Apple TV + Columbia Pictures) When the two met, he was a 26-year-old French military officer, and she was a 32-year-old single mother of two. They fell deeply in love and soon married, but both were known to have affairs. They spent five years in marital unbliss before divorcing in 1810 after Napoleon accepted Joséphine would never be able to give him the heir needed to maintain his line. Napoleon’s story is that of a war criminal , really— a psyche overrun with obsession and madness . What makes it so intriguing is that he was a man who came out of nowhere to seize and rule everything, all in the name of love. What’s makes it so tragic is that he did all he did in an effort to win Joséphine’s love, and when he couldn’t, he conquered the world to destroy her; unfortunately, in the process, he wound up destroying himself. To see this tragedy play out in the era of 21st Century film will be utterly exciting and captivating. Other iconic moments of French history teased in the trailer include the 1793 public beheading of Marie Antoinette; the 1795 defeat of French royalists, where Napoleon ruthlessly fired on protestors in the streets of Paris; and Napoleon’s infamous self-coronation as Emperor of France in direct antagonism of the Catholic Church and Pope Pius VII. #4 : Cinematic Reunion of Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix on set (Columbia Pictures). Napoleon reunites Joaquin Phoenix and Ridley Scott for the first time since Gladiator (2000), in which Phoenix plays the power-hungry ruler and last emperor of the Pax Romana, Commodus. His performance there is masterful and chilling, slicing you right in half as a viewer. S tunning and gorgeous in its own right, Gladiator was Phoenix’s first big production, so it’s quite fitting now that the two artistic forces are teaming back up for one of cinema’s biggest historical portrayals . If you saw Gladiator , you know how well the two support and feed off of one another’s creative energy. You also know what these powerhouses are capable of producing together. Both Phoenix and Scott have had over two decades to refine their respective craft and explore themselves as they relate to that craft, so we have every reason to be excited about this reunion, which will no doubt be anything short of brilliant and thrilling. #3 : Costumes & Sets Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine and Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon (Columbia Pictures). Costumes and sets are integral aspects to creative and enhancing a story’s atmosphere. Lucky for us, Ridley Scott is known for going all in where both are concerned. His films are rich in detail with stunning visual style and are known for dropping us right into a certain time period so we can experience it for ourselves. And that’s what a good historical adaptation should do: represent history as accurately as possible in a way that allows viewers to lose sense of their own place in time. For Napoleon , Academy Award-Winning Costume Designer Janty Yates, known for her work on Gladiator , is teaming back up with Scott, so get ready to be awe-struck. The two have collaborated on several films, including Kingdom of Heaven and The Last Duel , and from those alone we know to expect opulent sets dripping in vibrant fabrics—in this case, of chiffon, silk, satin, and lace adorning the neoclassical styles that were widely popular during the Napoleonic era. Coronation outfits are always popular standouts, so pay close attention to Napoleon and Joséphine’s lavish outfits in particular: He wore a gold-embroidered white satin tunic and red velvet cloak embellished with golden bees, while she wore a white satin gown with puffed sleeves and gold detailing. # 2: Battle Sequences credit: Apple TV + Columbia Pictures Ridley Scott is no stranger to action epics featuring epic battle sequences and historical bloodshed incited by political turmoil. It’s his bread and butter. In fact, he’s already made the hefty proposition that Napoleon will feature not one, not two, but SIX large-scale battles spanning Napoleon’s prolific military career. Here’s why this is exciting. Where early Napoleon-centric films of the past also tackled the leader’s infamous battles, they often focused more on a specific military moment—The Battle of Waterloo, for example—and made a grandiose spectacle out of it. Technology has come a very long way since then, and with Scott’s vision at the helm, I’d say buckle up for quite the spectacle. Scott planned Napoleon ’s massive battle sequences, like the tactical masterpiece that was the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz, in regular meetings with the heads of various production departments and with military advisors in order to ensure scale, choreography, accuracy, and cohesion in presentation. As previously mentioned, Napoleon is Scott’s second attempt at capturing the lived experience of the Napoleonic Wars, so you know his heart is wholly in this presentation. His first attempt was with his 1977 debut film, The Duellists . Given how much he planned and consulted where these cause-and-effect sequences are concerned, one thing’s for sure: Napoleon will not skimp on spectacle. Not even a little. And isn’t that what we often love most about historical adaptations? I know I do. #1 : Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte. (credit: Apple TV + Columbia Pictures) The Oscar winner is one of the most talented, versatile, impactful actors of modern-day cinema. He’s well known for his emotional, soulful, thunderous performances—especially those featuring a heavy psychological aspect, like Joker . Ridley Scott himself has said Phoenix is perfect to play Napoleon , that he is “the best player of damaged goods.” Excluding their reunion, the idea alone of seeing Joaquin Phoenix play one of the most powerful and emotionally complex military generals-turned-leaders is excitedly appealing. He has an authentic ability to dissolve himself into the psychology of his characters, which is part of what makes him so alluring. He understands darkness and uses that to create unforgettable dimension in his characters, layering them with varying levels of innocence and sadness mixed with power, love, and danger. To see Phoenix play any emotionally complex character is an experience that exposes us to deep empathy and awareness of something we haven’t yet considered. He often winds up carrying the entire film, as opposed to the film’s own story. Judging from early promotional materials, this will be the case with Napoleon . Reportedly, Scott realized his film centered around Phoenix’s performance and even rewrote the movie during filming to ensure Phoenix’s comfort level with his character portrayal. This allowed the actor to focus solely on bringing the depths of Bonaparte to life in an unforgettable way. Because of that, I imagine Napoleon will be the most immersive, authentic Napoleon Bonaparte film experience to date, one that sees us all hold Joaquin Phoenix in the highest esteem. Ridley Scott recently told Deadline , “No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin. He created one of movie history’s most complex emperors in Gladiator , and we’ll create another with his in Napoleon .” Mmm, I bet they will, and I can’t wait. Napoleon releases in theaters on November 22, 2023, before streaming on Apple TV+. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAZWXUkrjPc 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

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

Boiler Room are on a mission to make a significant impact in the world of metal. < Back Boiler Room’s Revival: A Resurgent Force in Metal Nicole Brice Mar 28, 2025 Share Boiler Room are on a mission to make a significant impact in the world of metal. I was a teenager in the late 90s / early 2000s , a time when nu metal , a subgenre of alternative metal , dominated the airwaves. Bands like Korn , Limp Bizkit , Slipknot , and Deftones were everywhere, and because of the mediums we had back then to bring us new music, only certain bands were filtered my way. Here I am in 2025, and I was recently introduced to Chris Lino , vocalist for the New York City-based nu metal band Boiler Room , thanks to my good friend and photographer , Jeff Crespi . Unbeknownst to me, Boiler Room had a very successful career for a while from 1996-2001 , sharing the stage with Type O Negative , King’s X , Clutch , Orgy , Life of Agony , and Static-X . Still, after changes at their label, they walked away from forging their legacy, so why are they back now, and what has been going on all these years? Credit: Jeff Crespi Gritty, raw guitar riffs and an aggressive yet melodic style, Boiler Room , were part of the broader DIY movement until they were discovered and signed. Chris Lino ’s vocals are thick, raspy, and full of soul. With a unique combination of sounds and clean screams, he can go from sweet to sour in only a few seconds. Truly, this man's voice is amazing. It’s remarkable how music machines work. Oodles and oodles of bands come out yearly, but it’s up to the geniuses who market these bands to make them stand out, so how and why did Boiler Room get lost amongst the shuffle? Credit: Jeff Crespi With their recent resurgence, Boiler Room is on a mission to make a significant impact in the music world. Their blend of rock and metalcore is a force to be reckoned with, and they're not holding back. They released the single, ‘ No Patience ,’ in 2024 , followed by ‘ Changes ’ in 2025 . The band's focus on live shows in the days ahead is a testament to their determination to share their music with audiences everywhere. Boiler Room’s past labels include Roadrunner and Tommy Boy Records , two significant players in the music industry. After years out of the spotlight, they are currently looking for a new home, a move that could potentially reshape their musical journey. Boiler Room’s current line-up is Chris Lino (vocals), Nick Seditious (guitar), Tommy Spano (drums), and Peter Rizzi (bass). A humble, charismatic, and talented human, I truly enjoyed my recent conversation with Chris Lino . We delved into the band's past, current journey, and future plans. Please take a moment to dive into our conversation below and then listen to their latest ‘ Changes ’, which is out now on all streaming platforms. The official music video for 'Changes' by Boiler Room - out NOW! MaM : Thank you for joining me today. I had to go down the Wikipedia rabbit hole to learn more about you guys, but you started as a thrash metal band in 1996, correct? Chris : Actually, we started in 1992 , and we were called Bible Black . In 1993 , we were selected to play the Foundations Forum alongside Accept , Kiss , I Mother Earth , Quicksand , and Rob Halford , who was working with his new band Fight at the time. We had a demo with the song ‘ Judgment Day ’ that passed the board with Concrete Marketing , so they voted us in, and we were selected for the show. I don’t know if they still host the Foundations Forum , but it used to feature signed bands, established bands with new material, bands that had just been signed , and then there was us – we were an unsigned band looking for a deal. We ended up playing, and it was awesome. Life of Agony was there, too. We knew them from Brooklyn . Rob Halford was actually at the side of the stage, and when we completed our set, his manager said, “Mr. Halford would like to meet you guys.” MaM : Wow, that’s awesome. Hell yeah. Chris : He was the nicest guy, and he gave us some simple yet great advice. “Just keep writing”, he says in his British accent to us, and he was thinking about managing us at that time. He was looking to start a label and had a management company. We ended up touring with Type O Negative and Life of Agony . We had Ken Kriete , their manager, who was helping to manage us at the time. That relationship fizzled out, and our original guitar player ended up leaving, so we put an ad out in The Village Voice – back in the day, that’s how it was done. MaM : Man, back in the day, that was the only way you could advertise for anything—no social media. Remember paper flyers for shows, too? Chris : Oh yeah. So, we ended up putting the ad out there, and we had to go through approximately 128 demo tapes . We were very popular in the tri-state area and on the verge of something significant. At the time, we were also in talks with some labels. We eventually went through all the demos until we came upon Rob Caggiano ’s demo, and it was different because he wasn’t just shredding on it and playing. He remade a Misfits ’ song, sang on it, and created a versatile demo that stood out. He could sing backing, but he never did in the band. Man, so he pulls up and right away, he just had this swag and this attitude out of the gate. (laughter) He showed up, though, and had all the right equipment and everything. We had asked him to learn four of our songs from our recently released indie album, and he nailed two of them. However, he didn’t put in the work for the other two. The drummer and bass player were kind of “eh” at first, but then I told him to show us a couple of his riffs and stuff he was working on. He busted out some riffs that just blew me away, and I was inspired immediately. I was like, “Do that again!” (laughter) That was one of our singles, too, ‘ Do It Again ’, no pun intended, but once he busted out this riff, I immediately started adding vocals to it, and that was it. He and I hit it off immediately, and we wrote all of what turned out to be the first Boiler Room record. We wrote about 80% of it. We had a creative connection. It was around this time that our music also began to be played on KROQ . MaM : KROQ was the place to be heard back in the day. Chris : Yeah, they had a metal show on Sunday , and we were one of the first unsigned metal bands to be played on it, and we had a couple of shows in the area. One was at Irving Plaza where we opened up for Machine Head , and then another time it was Orgy, and when we opened up for Orgy , it was insane. We have a video of it on our Facebook page . We just blew it up that night, and we had another manager give us his card while saying, “I’ve never had a local band blow my signed band away.” (laughter) After that, the phone calls started coming in, and we initially signed with Roadrunner . We went out to L.A. and recorded the whole album out there. ‘ Do It Again ’ ended up being released on MTV’s “ The Return of the Rock ” CD Volume 1, alongside many other heavy hitters. It was Kid Rock , Korn , P.O.D. , Papa Roach , Sevendust , us, and a plethora of other great bands . We were off to a good start, but we ultimately hit a brick wall with some of the politics in the music industry. It had nothing to do with us, but there was a change in leadership, and the original CEO who had signed us ended up leaving the label, and the new person showed no interest in us. They kept pushing our release date back, so we knew we needed to get off the label. We ended up getting off the label eventually and signed with Tommy Boy/Warner Bros . They were trying to get into the nu metal scene at the time because you had bands like Limp Bizkit blowing up. We were off to the races after that. Photo provided by band We went on tour with Disturbed and Kittie . Kittie was the headliner back then. So, Disturbed started taking off with their first album and ultimately left the tour. We decided we needed to get back on a tour with them, and we ended up touring the tri-state area with them. It was great. Then, we toured with Mudvayne to promote the release of their first album, and from there, we embarked on a club tour in Europe , which also went very well. Came back from Europe , and the label dropped us because we weren’t selling enough records in the States . They owed us for another album, though, so we settled that and then decided we needed to regroup. Rob , though, had already agreed to join Anthrax , so we knew that conversation was coming. Everyone just ended up going their separate ways until I hooked up with Mike Orlando from Adrenaline Mob . He suggested that we redo the Boiler Room record because he’s a producer and engineer and has a studio in Staten Island , and he thought we had a sort of legacy going with Boiler Room . I decided to select the choice songs that Rob Caggiano and I wrote, which I felt did not receive their fair share of recognition. So, we re-recorded them with new production, and we pumped them up. We did four songs from the Boiler Room record, and everything else is new material. One song, ‘Rectify,’ on which Ron Thal played an insane, ripping solo, but we had to edit it for radio, so we have two versions of that song. On tour with Disturbed - photo provided by band MaM : Who all did you bring into the mix for recording this go-round? Chris : So, Mike Orlando hooked me up with Peter , and we found Nick , the guitarist, and Tommy Spano on drums. That got the line-up back together, but I started recording the album before I met Pete . We had Jason Bittner from Shadows Fall and Overkill play the drums, and then Pete came in to record the bass. Mike Orlando did the guitars. Nick did a bunch of leads on it, but the album had already been recorded when we hooked up with them. We then released the single ‘ No Patience ’, which was initially titled ‘Patience’, as the song has nothing to do with actual patience. Additionally, Guns N' Roses already had a song called ‘ Patience ’, so we reworked it and released it as a single. We have a video on YouTube that is performing well, with over 400,000 views. The official video for 'No Patience' by Boiler Room MaM : Then you have ‘Changes’, so tell us a little more about that one. Chris : That I wrote with Mike Orlando . I didn’t get into that story, so after Boiler Room broke up, he tracked me down before he blew up. We hooked up and started writing, and did something called Out of Body , so ‘ Changes ’ was an Out of Body song. A lot of the songs, his songs, ended up on Adrenaline Mob's first album , which they changed the melodies and the lyrics, but ‘ Changes ’ was the song we wrote together, and he never used, so I was like, “Let’s re-record that one and put it on the new Boiler Room album.” Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Hell yeah, man, so you just decided to dive right back in to start releasing music. Was it because you missed it, or because you felt there was something there that you just needed to express? Chris : Both. Orlando is like, “Dude, when you gonna get back in the saddle again?”, and I’m like “Eh…” I told him I was thinking about doing something different, but he was like, “Nah, redo some of that older material. Redo the whole album.” I was like, yeah, I’ll redo some of the songs, but I’m not redoing the entire album. Like some of the songs that fell by the wayside, like ‘ No Patience ’, which we used to do at soundcheck when we were touring with Mudvayne , and they would stop in their tracks to listen. Imagine you’re touring with Mudvayne , and they stop to listen as you’re doing soundcheck, asking what the name of the song is and why the song isn’t in your set. That was the one song that I always wanted to redo because it never got a fair shot. Chris Lino of Boiler Room - photo provided by band MaM : So, tell us about the new album and when it will be released? Chris : It’s going to be nine songs with the edit of ‘Rectify’. We're looking at June for the release date. Pete and I also wrote a new song for the album called, 'Haunted'. We can't wait for everyone to hear it. MaM : Who were some influences that shaped your sound when you were first starting out? Did the idea for the band come about in high school, or how old were you when you first decided to start a band? Chris : I was in college when the band started. We had all the influences prevalent at the time, including Pantera , Black Sabbath , and Metallica . Then, Limp Bizkit and Korn were gaining immense popularity, which also influenced us. I don’t think there is any musician out there who a Black Sabbath riff hasn't influenced. MaM : In fact, down here in Louisiana, most bands are always influenced by Black Sabbath and Pantera. Pantera is a southern thing, though. You can’t live in the south and not like Pantera. Chris : We actually got to meet them when we were touring with Type O Negative because Phil is a fan of Carnivore and Peter Steele . After Type O Negative started taking off, Pantera jumped on a tour with them. We got to see them in Albany, New York , I think. Ken , Type O’s manager, was still managing us, and he invited us backstage to meet the guys. Phil was nowhere to be found, but Dime and Vinnie were awesome. They told me, though, that if I wanted to hang out with them, I needed to start drinking. (laughter) MaM : Oh yeah, gotta hang with them Pantera boys. Chis : You'd better start banging some shots out now. They were really cool. Rex was somewhat standoffish and asked us who we were, but overall, it was a great experience. I met Vinnie a second time years later because, after the lead singer of Drowning Pool passed away, I tried out to be their new singer. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Wow! Did you? I had no idea. Chris : Yeah, they called me up after a year of mourning. Boiler Room was done. I was demoing with Mike Orlando , and I was shopping again. My old A&R guy, who had my demos, knew I was trying to secure another deal. However, he informed me that he had sent my demos to Paul Bassman , Drowning Pool’ s manager at the time, and that they were interested in meeting with me. They reviewed over 300 demos from around the world and narrowed it down to me and another guy. They sent me the album with no vocals so I could practice on it, and then they also sent two new songs . They asked me to write melodies and lyrics for the two new songs. I was in New York and did this, and it took me a couple of weeks. They ended up flying me down to Dallas, Texas , and the drummer was cool. Here I'm playing the entire Drowning Pool record, singing it, and it was surreal. It felt like Drowning Pool karaoke, but I had the actual band. (laughter) MaM: So, what ended up happening? Did you not take the gig because you would have to move? Chris : That was some of it, but they had another guy they were looking at, too. It just didn’t work out, but I was honored. They were very nice guys. So, after we did our jam and everything, they took me to the strip joint in Texas that Vinnie and Dime owned. They said they wanted to “send me off”, but they hadn’t let me know yet what their decision was. I walked in, though, and met Vinnie Paul again, and he goes, “You gonna be the next singer of Drowning Pool?”, and I go, “I hope so, we’re gonna see what happens.” The rest of the night, I was hanging out with Vinnie Paul , the guys from Damageplan , and the guys from Drowning Pool , and man, they were drinking like fish, man. I fell right into it, too. They go, “We hear you don’t really drink", and I go, “Ah, man…” (laughter) They end up passing me a bottle of Jack , and go, “Give me a five count.” MaM: Oh no … (laughter) They got me bombed, and the next thing I know, their manager goes, “You’ve got about four hours. We’re gonna drive you to the airport and drop you off.” They then let me know that they hadn’t made their decision yet, but they ended up going with the other guy. Paul Bassman tried to help me and Mike Orlando with Out of Body by getting us signed to Drowning Pool’s label , but that fell through, too. That was it for a bit, and I gave it a break until Mike Orlando tracked me down again. He kept pushing me to do something, and at the time, I was doing an acoustic thing that later evolved into a plugged-in thing. Still, the whole time, Mike is trying to push me to redo the first Boiler Room record, which led to the decision of doing the songs Rob and I wrote, but not the entire album. MaM : That’s actually a smart way to approach it. Chris : Yeah, so I had some new music I wanted to do as well, so I kind of just leaned on my strengths with what I do. I put the rapping thing away. My three most significant influences at the time were Chino from Deftones , Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots , and Phil from Pantera . I was becoming a hybrid of those influences. What I realized, though, is I needed to just “come with it” – that ballsy, raspy voice and forget about the rapping and the ominous whisper thing that Chino does. I veered away from that by just doing what I do best. Then, one night, I was watching a show with Steve Vai , and they asked him what he attributed his success to. He told them that you have to lean on your strengths. If you do something well, lean on it. …and here we are. MaM : Do you feel technology has helped or hurt the music industry? What’s your take on all the technological advancements in music? Chris : I’d have to say both. When we were growing up, you’d buy the whole album and listen to the entire CD . You’d open it up, look at the artwork, read the credits, and examine the pictures— it was a whole experience. You became a true fan. Some songs you liked. Some you didn’t, but at least you knew the entire album. Now, it’s like they’re promoting Attention Deficit Disorder . You download one or two songs. There’s no actual record sales anymore. It’s all based on streams , and that’s misleading because you don’t have real fans anymore. At that time, securing a record deal was highly challenging. You had to do it from the ground up – garage band style. Now, anyone can put up anything. It’s great because you can access the music more straightforwardly, but in a way, it’s not. MaM : What are the plans for the rest of 2025 and beyond for Boiler Room? Chris : Well, we’re gonna release the new album in June . My focus is this … I know everyone wants to focus on social media these days, but I’m grassroots, and the social media only goes so far … I’m all about getting people to shows . We’re looking to partner with a larger national act to secure a spot on some of these tours. I want to flood out the entire tri-state area, hit the East Coast or the South , such as Louisiana . If we could secure a good show with a national act, that would work. We’re in a rebuilding process right now, though. We’re trying to rebuild the foundation of our fanbase and replant the flag. Shows … quality shows. We’ll see where it goes. As Chris Lino and Boiler Room move forward in the modern music scene, they stand poised to bring their powerful music to a new generation. They stand out as a band that embodies grit and substance. Their music isn’t just something you hear; it’s something you feel. I look forward to watching their journey unfold. Boiler Room is a name to remember. They’re not just playing metal—they're living it. To learn more about Boiler Room: Facebook: Facebook Discogs: Boiler Room Discography: Vinyl, CDs, & More | Discogs Wikipedia: Boiler Room (band) - Wikipedia All Music: Boiler Room Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More... | AllMusic YouTube: BOILER ROOM - YouTube Instagram: (@boilerroom_band) • Instagram photos and videos *Some photos by Gessner Photography Eric (@ gessner.photography ) • Instagram photos and videos *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 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

Grey Areas isn’t just a band; they are a movement. < Back Grey Areas: A Louisiana Metal Band Looking to Inspire Hope in a World Filled with Chaos Nicole Brice Feb 13, 2025 Share Grey Areas isn’t just a band; they are a movement. It's always a thrill to unearth a new band from Louisiana, each one a unique sonic journey. Recently, I stumbled upon the metal band Grey Areas from DeRidder, Louisiana. Their first single, ‘ Burial ,’ is a testament to their distinct sound that instantly captivated me. Released August 23, 2024 ‘ Burial ’ was released on August 23, 2024 . It is a healthy blend of metal and metalcore with progressive elements and a melody. With hard-hitting vocals and a strong opening – the song starts jamming early and is a solid tune sure to get your head nodding. The band is comprised of like-minded musicians with tenacity, personality, and ambition. Brad Nesbitt plays the drums, Cody Alexander plays the bass, Randy Taylor is the vocalist, and Xander Lee plays the guitar. With new music set to release in April, Grey Areas is steadily letting those creative juices flow to drive their vision forward. More than just a typical metal band, Grey Areas' music has an underlying message of unity and hope. They want to illuminate things that are not always black and white in a world filled with chaos and to do so, have created Hope Fest , which will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025 , at the DeRidder Fairgrounds Pavillion – a local original music festival designed to give back to those in need, with proceeds being directly donated to Foundations Sober Living House in Lake Charles , LA. With the recent addition of Randy Taylor from Twisted eXistence on vocals, Grey Areas has solidified their line-up with a powerhouse frontman destined to light the stage on fire with his explosive vocals. What struck me immediately about Grey Areas was their unwavering professionalism and genuine kindness. They are a group of guys you'd love to hang out with, and Mixed Alt Mag had the privilege of a lengthy chat with them. Take a moment to get to know them better. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What other musical projects have you been involved in? Cody : Brad and I were in the band Southern Death Toll . Brad : It was classic death metal – hard and fast … thrashy. We had a solid ten-year run with that. MaM : So, what led to the formation of Grey Areas? Xander : I was in some groups back in the day, too, so this was in 2010 when we realized we all had something musically in common, but in 2023, we decided to do something and jam. MaM : How did you decide on the genre of music to play? I listened to ‘Burials,’ and it has so many influences. You can’t categorize it. You’ve got some prog, death metal, regular metal, and thrash … but it’s truly unique. I actually saw a comment on your Facebook page recently, too, where someone mentioned you are one of the most creative bands out there. I can honestly agree with what I’ve heard so far. Who are some of your influences musically? Xander : Black Label Society , Pantera , Slipknot – pretty much anything metalcore. Randy : Killswitch Engage , Pantera … bands that incorporate some clean singing with some screaming. Cody : I agree with the metalcore bands, but I’ll branch out and listen to various genres and artists. A little rhythm and blues, a little rap … I like to funk it up a bit. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Growing up, how did you know you would end up playing the instruments you currently play? For instance, Brad, how did you decide to become a drummer? Brad : I was a bass player first and didn’t realize I wanted to be a drummer until I suffered an injury. My arm became paralyzed, so playing drums was a type of physical therapy that stuck with me. It just became my thing, I guess. It was constant motion, and it still is therapy, honestly. I think I got good at it. Xander : My parents were always playing music growing up, and something about guitar – or just the sound – it stood out to me. I always just wanted to play and make noise. Randy : I started playing guitar at about ten and just stuck with it. I still play guitar for another band, Twisted eXistence , too. I’ve known Xander for a couple of years now, and when he told me about Grey Areas , I started coming to the shows. Once their last singer departed, things just came together. Vocals are a relatively new concept, but it’s fun so far, and I’m just winging it. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : It was just a natural fit. See how things work out. Cody : It came out of necessity. When I was about eight or ten, I started taking guitar lessons, and my dad was a drummer in a church band. I couldn’t touch drums but had always wanted to play guitar. The church band needed a bass player, so I swapped over to that when I was a teenager, and it naturally came together. I’ve played church music, country, and metal. MaM : What have you worked on since the single dropped in August? Any new music? Xander : Absolutely. Cody : We’re still pushing for the whole album. We’ve been practicing and have the structure of the new songs. We're also trying to get the old set fully recorded. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : When can we expect that? Xander : Maybe the end of 2025, but we’re not quite sure yet. Very soon, though. MaM : Are any shows coming up for 2025? Xander : So far, we’ve been invited to Eclipse Fest 2025. MaM : Hell yeah! It's a great festival that Nick Cline does. Xander : Yeah, we’re excited to play that. We’ve some other shows in March, and then we have a festival we’re putting on called Hope Fest in DeRidder in April. This will be our first big event. Randy : It’ll be big for rock and metal, especially for this town and this area because it’s a rural area—very country. The metalheads are out there, though. Xander : When we were younger, if you wanted to go to a concert, it was either Lafayette, Houston, or New Orleans, two to three hours away. This will bring it all closer to home. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, let’s talk about the new single. Your sound is so strong on this track, and now, with the addition of Randy on vocals, I can’t wait to see the band's progression and how your sound evolves. How do you keep yourselves in a creative mindset to write new music? Is there something you do to influence that creative vibe? Xander : Not really, to be honest. My writing methods are not traditional. I like to improvise when we jam. I’ll come up with a ton of stuff in a session, but sometimes it just doesn’t stick. When I find something that works, I’ll try to find something that fits with it, and then it all builds. It’s a long process sometimes. We don’t try to force anything. Brad : We just let it create itself. MaM : Yeah, that’s what you’ve indeed got to do. Don’t force creativity. Randy : Yeah, once Xander has his piece done, and we have the guitar riff, we can map out the drum patterns, etc. My notes on my cell phone are loaded with words and phrases. Catchy stuff. If it fits, it fits. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What would you like listeners to know about your music if they discover it for the first time? Randy : It’s authentic. We’re not trying to copy anyone. We’re just trying to put our ideas out there. Xander : I want it to speak to people going through things in the grey. What society doesn’t deem typical — grey issues. MaM : If music doesn’t speak to or inspire me somehow, then I won’t be interested. I get that. Xander : We want to have fun and inspire people. It's as simple as that. As Grey Areas continues to carve their path through the underground Louisiana music scene, they stand poised to bring their heavy, brooding sound to the masses. They embody the modern metal landscape, blending complexity, emotion, and, most importantly, authenticity in a way that feels distinctly Southern while planted in the global metal scene. Grey Areas isn’t just a band; they are a movement. They represent the boldness of Louisiana’s musical spirit, reinterpreted through the lens of metal, and as their fanbase grows, it’s clear that this band will leave a lasting impact on the genre for years to come. For more information on Hope Fest coming up in April, visit: Hope Fest 2025 | Facebook For more info about Grey Areas: Grey Areas | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree Press Kit for Grey Areas Upcoming shows: Click picture for more info. Click picture for more info. Click picture for more info. *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? Want to be featured? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Coming together to celebrate the summer solstice < Back Festival of Litha Returns to Downtown Florence in June Keeley Brooks May 18, 2023 Share Coming together to celebrate the summer solstice Summer is right around the corner, and with it comes all of those highly anticipated festivals full of food, fun, music, and crafts. Returning to downtown Florence, Ala., for the third consecutive year is the increasingly popular Festival of Litha, hosted by Hesperia Mystic Shoppe out of Sheffield, Alabama. Last year, the festival was held in Wilson Park in Florence and featured dozens of local vendors and live music over the course of three days. This year, the event will feature close to 80 vendors and will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at a new location: The Historic Sweetwater Depot located at 502 S Royal Avenue in downtown Florence. “I have felt drawn to this historic area of Florence,” says Hesperia owner Kendall Gilchrist, “and I am happy to introduce an event to bring more attention to this side of town that holds cute little restaurants.” The festival is a FREE family friendly event that runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and locals are invited to come out and enjoy some great food, local arts/crafts/goods, and live music by local and surrounding-area musicians. courtesy of Hesperia Mystic Shoppe Litha (pronounced Lee-tha) is the celebration of the summer solstice and the beginning of Summer, which occurs this year on Wednesday, June 21. It has been a celebration amongst many cultures for many, many years but its origins are rooted in Celtic lore. Litha is said to be a time to celebrate the power of nature and its fertility, as the solstice represents the transition from action to nourishment, which is exactly what the sun gives us during the long nights of Summer. Even in those who do not mark the summer solstice, there is an internal flame within when the days get longer, and the sun leads us through better times. By celebrating the sun and the power it provides to all nature, humans are spiritually ignited and thus connected to its life force. For those familiar with the Eastern concepts of yin and yang, the solstice is a time of maximum yang—the longest day of the year. “This year,” says Gilchrist, “people can expect more of a market feel with bits of entertainment for both adult and kids alike. There will be food, live music, and a bar inside the Depot where you can cool off. We currently have around 80 vendors this year—such growth from around 25 in previous years!” courtesy of Hesperia Mystic Shoppe Vendors will be placed inside and outside The Depot, with many vendors selling metaphysical-themed arts and crafts as well as candles, bath and body goods, jewelry, books, and so much more. “I've always been community-driven, I just couldn't figure out for a long time what I could do to bring together like-minded individuals and support small businesses like myself,” adds Gilchrist. “It feels good to see others succeed in doing something they love, and I get to witness that at each festival I do now. I'm happy to support these local vendors as they have supported me in so many ways. I hope each of my vendors gain more and more confidence in what they do because some have never had their craft out for the world to see. There are such beautiful, talented, gifted crafters and creators in this area! I'm so glad I can provide a safe space for them.” As far as the music goes, this year will feature live performances from jazz/funk/blues/rock multi-instrumentalist Charles Brooks, singer/songwriter Bryson Bishop, and pop-rock duo Thrice Sovereign. Charles Brooks (by Rachel Neal), Bryson Bishop (social media), Thrice Sovereign (by Amanda Chapman) Kicking off the live music at 4:30 p.m. will be Dr. Charles Brooks , UNA Entertainment Industries professor and a multi-instrumentalist across a slew of genres. He is most known for his wicked four-mallet jazz vibraphone skills, but he is also a classically trained percussionist who plays drum set, piano, hand drums, synth keytar, and acoustic guitar, to name a few. For Litha, he’ll be rocking faces off with the synth keytar as heard below in this year’s Black History Month tribute to Stevie Wonder. For more on Charles Brooks, visit www.TheCharlesBrooks.com . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R2OK689L2U Bryson Bishop will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. He is a Shoals-area singer/songwriter who will keep you entertained with some of your favorite covers from artists like James Brown, Michael Jackson, and so many others, and you might just hear an original song or two in his mix. To check out Bryson's beautiful singing, visit him on Facebook and Instagram . courtesy of Bryson Bishop Music social media Up next around 6 p.m. will be Florence-area singer/songwriter Aaron Dean . courtesy Aaron Dean social media And closing out the music for the evening at 6:30 p.m. will be Thrice Sovereign , a Florence-based pop-rock female duo comprised of multi-instrumentalist Kristen Borden Talcott and singer/songwriter Amanda Lee Borden Talcott, who recently released their title single from their debut album “Waiting to Thunder.” Their songs are groovy tunes composed in a popular style that draws on heavy guitar riffs and the fat, distorted sounds of hark rock with artistically relatable lyrics. You certainly won’t want to miss the energy! For more on them, visit www.ThriceSovereign.com . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vIa7bn3Klg Festival of Litha isn’t all Gilchrist has in the works for this. year, though. On Tuesday, May 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Hesperia Mystic Shoppe and Lava Room will partner to host Brooklyn-based goth-folk musical duo Charming Disaster with a pop-up shops experience full of metaphysical items in downtown Florence on Mobile Street in support of the band. The duo will perform from 8-9:30 p.m. inside the Lava Room, and blue-cup cocktail drinks will be served alongside a delicious menu. You can even take the blue cups out onto Mobile Street to accompany you in your shopping. Charming Disaster will also be selling their merch after the show. Says Gilchrist, “Overall, it will just be a fun evening to get out midweek and take a break from it all!” So, mark your calendars, people in the Shoals area! The Charming Disaster Pop-Up Shops Experience happens Tuesday, May 23, from 6-10 p.m. at the Lava Room , and Festival of Litha happens Sunday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There’s even a new Halloween festival coming this year, courtesy of Kendall Gilchrist and Hesperia Mystic Shoppe, but you’ll have to stay tuned for that. I promise to bring you everything you need to know about Samhain Horror Night closer to October! 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 . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

The BIG Reveal are Off the Charts < Back Unveiling The BIG Reveal: Alabama’s Rising Alternative Rock Band Bud Gambrell Apr 7, 2025 Share The BIG Reveal are Off the Charts 395 ! Three hundred ninety-five miles. That amounts to a car ride lasting around six hours. You are likely asking yourself why this is relevant. Well, I will tell you. I was contacted on Tuesday of last week by my editor and publisher, Nicole , regarding a band she wanted me to research called The BIG Reveal . Just a quick sidenote: Nicole is the one who makes it possible for me to write these articles. She has been so very supportive of me since we first met. If you get the chance, stop by the contact page and show her some love. Let her know you appreciate what she does. Now, back to business. I reached out to the band she suggested, The BIG Reveal , and was able to interact with their manager, Chad Parker , to get things rolling. We had a nice conversation, and he provided me with some background information. It was enough information for me to dig in and learn what I could before I interviewed them. One thing to note about The BIG Reveal is that this is a young band , which I truly enjoy learning more about the up-and-coming talent out there. They are the future of music , so we need to delve deeply into the music they are creating. The music industry has become a shell of its former self, and with so many avenues to discover music, when you think about it, there really isn’t one good avenue. It’s all so cluttered, and amongst the clutter stands The BIG Reveal . Photo provided by band The number 395 I mentioned above represents the number of miles it would have taken me to get in my car and drive to Grand Bay, Alabama , where The BIG Reveal originates. Since that was not possible on short notice, I relied on the interwebs to assist me. We live in the glorious days of technology. We have YouTube , which hosts a plethora of videos. (Mark one off the bucket list. I got to use plethora in a sentence.) YouTube is great because you can see the video of a band, not just an audio recording . We also have social media pages at our disposal. Like many bands, The BIG Reveal has music available on their website , which is a feature that a good number of bands these days don’t even have. Can you believe that? When you can visit one spot to see it all, it makes things easier when researching a band. Once I did my homework, it was time to call the band and have a conversation. Dive in below to learn more about The BIG Reveal . OTC : Hello guys! Thanks for taking my call. Introduce me to the band. Gavin Parker : I'm Gavin . I play guitar and sing. Blake Hall : I'm Blake . I play drums. Luke Puckett : I'm Luke . I play bass and sing harmonies. OTC : How long have you guys been together? Gavin : We've been together for about a year, but Luke just came in a couple of months ago to play bass for us. OTC : How did you guys meet? Gavin : I started the band with a couple of friends from school, and we were having fun. We got pretty good, but then it started getting serious. So, they backed out because they had other commitments at school, such as sports. Then Blake , the drummer , ended up living like five minutes away from me. Someone gave me their number, and I contacted them. After we met, he started playing drums for me, and then we met Luke online a couple of months ago. Click to visit The Big Reveal's website OTC : Can you tell me about your musical background and how you got started? Gavin : My entire family plays music. I grew up around it and just listened to the ' 90s pop-rock stuff. It has been my favorite since I was a little kid. Blake : I started playing drums about two years ago. I have always liked music a lot and always loved the drums! Luke : No one in my family is musical whatsoever. I decided I really wanted to about four years ago. I've always been classically trained on the piano . That started when I was about six or seven years old. I took lessons, and then I self-taught myself the bass about four years ago. OTC : Did the bass clef from your piano lessons carry over to the bass guitar? Luke : Yes, sir, it did. It helped me learn bass guitar quickly. OTC : While I was talking to your manager, he mentioned the Arts Block Party at UAB . Tell me about that. Gavin : Yeah, that was back in September 2024 . We entered a competition they had. It was like 150 something submissions . People got to vote on four bands that they wanted to play at the Block Party . Our fans showed up to vote for us! So, we ended up playing there! Jemison Hall at UAB was really cool! Photo provided by band OTC : So, the competition with The Arts Block was going to be in Birmingham , and you guys are in South Alabama. Your fans must have really stepped up for that. Gavin : Yeah, so that's when our TikTok page was starting to get a lot of traction. We made a couple of videos, and they all went and voted for us. OTC : Tell me a little bit about your fan base. They seem to be loyal. Gavin : Our TikTok site started picking up around June 2024 . We currently have approximately 37,000 on there. The local fan base is pretty devoted! They come to a lot of our shows! Our fan base is pretty cool for voting for us in multiple competitions that we've won. OTC : You also won a radio competition for WCPR . Tell me about that competition. Gavin : That was a competition to play at the Biloxi Crawfish Festival . 97.9 , CPR Rocks was running an ad explaining where you could submit your band’s music, and then people could vote for you to play. So, again, the same people, the same thing. People voted for us to win. I guess they like us! We will be opening for Puddle of Mudd , Hinder , Cowboy Mouth , and Marcy Playground at the Crawfish Music Festival on April 26th . Click to go to 97.9 WCPR's website OTC : You have a new album coming out. I'm assuming it's your first time in the studio. Could you describe the process of recording the new album? Gavin : We tracked everything at our home studio. One of the bands that we met in Birmingham at the Arts Block Party connected us with their mixing engineer in Knoxville . So, we tracked everything at home, and then we sent it to him, and he makes it sound good. OTC : Can you share with me a memorable experience while recording the new album? Gavin : I'm trying to get everything right and not being too much of a perfectionist. Just getting it how we want it because it's going to be there forever. It’s our first album, so we’re trying to make it as good as possible. Upcoming shows for The BIG Reveal OTC : Did you learn anything about yourself through your music during that recording process? Gavin : The thing I learned is that I'm more of a perfectionist than I thought I was. It took a while for me to accept some stuff. Blake : I learned that recording is a lot harder than it seems. I prefer the live shows to the recordings. It's just a long process. OTC : How would you describe the music that you created for the new album? Gavin : I'll say that it's real close to ’ 90s alternative rock , pop rock , post-grunge stuff. One of my favorite bands is Sister Hazel . You can hear their influence on this album. The ’90s pop-rock stuff is really what this album is influenced by. OTC : Blake, what would you say your influences are? Blake : My influences are bands like Foo Fighters , Nirvana and Led Zeppelin . They have influenced the way I play. OTC : What about you, Luke? Luke : Nirvana for me as well, and The Beatles . And then there were a lot of the 90s bands, like Green Day . However, I also really enjoy alternative rock , such as Goo Goo Dolls and The Killers . OTC : What are your long-term goals for the band, and what are you most excited about for the future of your music? Gavin : I think the goal has always been to do it until we can't anymore. Just keep doing it, having fun, and getting a larger and larger fan base. Luke : I think for me, it's definitely that I want a tour. I would love to go on a tour. The BIG Reveal album release show coming on April 11, 2025 OTC : What role does your social media play in the way you're focusing your career? Gavin : Our social media got us some attention from a couple of major independent labels that we are keeping in contact with. It has really helped us out a lot. TikTok has been strong for us. We are able to record live videos of what we are doing. It’s a way to put yourself out there and let people know what you are doing. OTC : What's the most unusual fan interaction that you've had so far? Gavin : We had this guy at our very first show. He had a little too much to drink, and he ended up coming up and almost getting up on stage. He was pointing the finger at me and singing the wrong words. But he was having fun. Blake : They always want me to sign broken drumsticks. I hit hard during shows! OTC : You are a new band. Do you have a favorite venue that you’ve played at so far? Gavin : Bozos in Pascagoula. We're having our album release party there. People always show up there, and we always have a great time. We played at The Soul Kitchen in Mobile for 92.1 the ZEW 's Christmas show, which was pretty cool. OTC : I have one more question. I'm going to ask all three of you with this one to see what y'all come up with. If your band had a superpower, what would it be and why? Gavin : I would fly so that I could fly around. Fly around the shows and I could surf on my guitar—air surf, you know, with a wireless setup. OTC : Like the Silver Surfer ? Gavin : Yeah, that would be pretty cool. OTC : What about you, Luke? Luke : My mind is a little bit more practical. Just to be able to play everything and not mess up, and just be impervious to making mistakes. OTC : Blake, what do you got? If your band had a superpower, what would it be and why? Blake : Probably not to run out of energy. Three-hour shows can really take a toll on you! OTC : Any final thoughts for your fans, old and new? Gavin : Our debut album is set to release on April 11th on Spotify , TikTok , and across all our social media platforms. At an early stage in their musical journey, this group of young men already has a loyal following. The one thing missing from their fan base is you. Get on board! One thing I haven’t mentioned before is the band's age. I wanted this article to be based on their music, rather than having any preconceived notions about their youth. Gavin is only 16. Luke is 18 and Blake is 17. This is a promising young band, and they are only going to get better. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Where to find Bud: Email: the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find The Big Reveal: Website: The BIG Reveal Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557900071233 ‎ Apple Music: The BIG Reveal - Apple Music Spotify: The BIG Reveal | Spotify TikTok www.tiktok.com/@_thebigreveal *photos provided by the band www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Got something for Bud to check out? Reach him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.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

Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album < Back Off the Charts: Otis Walker Bud Gambrell Mar 25, 2025 Share Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album The making of this article goes back a few months. I first spoke with Otis Walker in November 2024. Otis had a new album release coming up, and my plans were to be there. Well, as sometimes happens, life steps in and changes your plans. Our original interview was set to be at the album release party on November 29, 2024, the day after Thanksgiving. The morning of the party, I woke up with a flare-up of vertigo . There go those plans. Fast-forward to March 17, 2025, where I received a message from Otis, “I would like to personally invite you to our show this Saturday night.” I had been attempting to fill up my schedule for the spring and summer, but it so happens that my Saturday night was open. So, my reply was, “I am going to see about taking you up on this invite. Thank you!” Saturday Night’s show was to be held at Tangled Strings Studio in Huntsville . I was familiar with the venue by name only. I have seen the shop, but since they specialize in custom guitars , I have never stopped by. Lo and behold, it is a concert venue, too! I am unsure of how I missed out on that news. This is a very special place for live music. It is not too large or too small. It is just right for a songwriter/storyteller-type event. I tell you all that to set the table, as they say, so you can get a better visual for the space. Saturday March 22, 2025 As I walked into Tangled Strings Studio , the first person I met was Lisa Chang . She was up front selling tickets. Lisa is also a local musician with a fantastic voice. Otis and Lisa did a vocal duo during Otis’ set. I had never seen either of them perform, so I was mind-blown! Credit: Bud Gambrell The second person I ran into was Otis himself. Sometimes, it’s odd how these things work out. Otis and I began conversing as if we’d known each other for a while. We had just met for the first time. It’s always a bit of a concern with me that an interview will be stale due to no chemistry within the interview. That was not to be a worry tonight. Credit: Bud Gambrell We quickly realized common ground while talking about the band and stage set-up for the night. Otis added Kim Coffey to the percussion to add that extra beat. At almost the same time, we said, “similar to The Allman Brothers ” dual drummers. Otis told me that they are his favorite band. Mine too! Kim’s husband Donnie Cox is also in the band playing lead guitar. The pair also play in another band I worked with a few months ago. The band is rounded out by Richard Best on drums and Otis’ son Eli Brown on bass . Many moons ago, I worked with Richard , so the band was no stranger to me. Local songwriter Brett Carlisle opened the show. You will meet Brett and read more about him in an upcoming Off the Charts article. Our second band of the night was The Silver Silos , led by Taylor Burton . The Silver Silos are Taylor on guitar , Jacob Greene on bass , and his brother Brad Greene on saxophone and lap steel . Taylor is a friend of mine, and it is always a pleasure to have a conversation with him and hear his songs. The following is part of our conversation. For time and space purposes, I cannot include the entire conversation. Our conversation seemed very open-ended and long-winded. OTC : Otis, it is great to see you! It's nice to meet you finally! OW : Thanks for having me, man! OTC : We were first supposed to meet in November at the album release party. I'm sorry I couldn’t make it. So, tell me how the new album is doing. OW : It's our first time ever doing an album, so, you know, I have no metrics to measure against another album, but the first release did all right. The second single has had over forty streams in less than a month on Spotify . So, I mean, I think that's pretty remarkable. Hardly any of the streams are from my hometown, which is funny. We got lucky to get on a playlist and move forward. This is funny because the album's name is ' Forward ', so that's what we're doing. We're just trying to keep one foot in front of the other. OTC : Where can we find this new album? OW : You can go on the website at otiswalkerband.com . We've got the full album up for sale there. We're releasing one single every six weeks out to the wild. If you want the entire album, you can go to the website and you can purchase it there. Click picture to purchase OTC : Where did you find inspiration to write this new album's songs? OW : Well, you know you're going to find that you came to the right show tonight because we're doing the storytellers type show. I will tell you different stories about the different songs tonight. But, you know, I get a lot of different inspirations. Sometimes, it's a personal experience. Sometimes, I hear a lyric from another song that sends me in another direction. And you know, I feel like I'm an old bird now. I’m in my late 40s now. When I first started songwriting, it all had to be about something I felt. And now, I like to stew on it and get a story. So, in my older years, it's more story based. OTC : We will stop talking about how old we are at this point in the interview. (laughter) OTC : Did you write the songs on the new album, or did you have any interesting collaborations? OW : Out of the ten songs, one song was co-written by a buddy from college. The other nine songs were 100% mine, and then as far as the way that we did in the studio, you know, we all sat down at Clear Wave Studio and came up with how we wanted to produce the songs. They were all 100% mine, minus ' Southern Twist '. OTC : Do you have any future plans for any collaborations? OW : I've talked with a few guys. Taylor Burton and me, who we're playing the show with tonight. We've talked about that. We're gonna get together. I have also talked to Brett Carlisle , who's opening up tonight. He is a young songwriter, and we're also looking at it. My life hero is Barry Billings ; he's a great songwriter. Hopefully, we'll get to sit down and write a song together one day. OTC : As spring and summer are here, you've got new show dates. Do you have any particular dates or venues that you're looking forward to playing? OW : Well, tonight is! Here in Huntsville is our ticketed advance show. We're playing many shows where I’m solo and with the whole band. I love coming out and playing at a Tangled String Studio show where we get to have such an intimate chance to be with the audience because you're four feet from the first row. I love that! Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Do you have any goals for 2025? OW : Man, I would love to get to the part where we become a regional act . That is my goal! My dream is to be able to start playing some festivals and take out on the road what we're doing here in Huntsville and take it out to the people not here. The Huntsville music scene is intense. We could take it out to the rest of the southeast. OTC : What got you into music? OW : Well, I'm going to tell that story tonight. When I was growing up, we had a Ford Falcon , and it had a tape deck in it, and in that tape deck, there was a Roger Miller tape. I heard a song from Roger Miller and all those stories he tells. Man, it just lit a fire under me. Now, the other side of it is that my uncle, Bo Jack Killingsworth , is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame , and so growing up with him, I got to see people and be around people that not everyone would get to be around and experience. My uncle is my hero. Roger Miller lit the flame, and going to see Uncle Bo at a show. I thought he walked on water. OTC : So, Roger Miller lit the flame, and Uncle Bo fanned that flame? OW : He sure did! OTC : Are there any past or present instructors that you look up to, and what qualities do they have that you admire? OW : I went to college and got a degree. But while in college, I got to play with the Iguana Party , which had Barry Billings , Danny Kirsch , and Joey Flippen . Those three men were my age now, and I was in college. They taught me everything I know about music. From how to roll up a cord to knowing the right song to play at the right time and how to play with dynamics. I mean, all those boys are my heroes. No guitar player can outdo Barry Billings . I'm sorry. I know some great players are around, but Barry hung the moon! OTC : What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you? OW : (laughs) That's a great question! I think that I was told once that I can't play everything in the first song. I get very emotional. One of my band mentors told me I had to leave something for the third set. When I first got up there, I just started trying to play everything simultaneously. OTC : What is it about music that makes you so emotional and feel passionate? OW : Man, you hear that bass drum, and then you hear that snare, and that's my heartbeat! And then my emotions kick in as soon as I hear the drums, and the passion comes out! Because I get to do something that is very much, honestly, my drug! I mean. I love music! It's not about money. It's not about fame. It is as if there's none of that. I'm still playing music in my basement on a Saturday night because I cannot live without getting the music out of me! The recommendation from this music lover to the music lover reading this is to get to an Otis Walker show if you are in the North Alabama area. Otis Walker 's music, a unique blend of styles, is something you won't want to miss. You will want to grab the LP or CD from the merch table while you are there, too. I know you will want to hear the songs repeatedly because the album is good but hearing them live is even better! For those not in the North Alabama area, let’s all hope that Otis Walker becomes a regional touring band so you will also get the chance to experience him live. One way that you can help make that happen is to support local original music in your scene wherever you may be. Show up for shows and let these musicians know you appreciate what they are doing. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Where to find Bud: Email: the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tzk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book: Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find Otis Walker: Website: https://otiswalkerband.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OtisWalkerBand Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Otis Walker Band (@otiswalkerband) • Instagram photos and videos Soundcloud: Stream The Otis Walker Band music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud ‎ Apple Music: Otis Walker Band - Apple Music Where to find Tangled Strings Studio: Website: Tangled String Studios Facebook: Facebook Instagram: Tangled String Studios (@tangledstringstudios) • Instagram photos and videos *all photos by Bud Gambrell www.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 Got something for Bud to check out? Reach him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Okay Kenedi’s debut album is more than just okay. It’s a wonderful ride of alt-pop that is superb, loaded with fun and introspection, and a heartfelt reminder that we’re all okay. < Back Okay Kenedi: A Casual Introduction Is Hard to Come By Tim W. Jackson Oct 20, 2023 Share Okay Kenedi’s debut album is more than just okay. It’s a wonderful ride of alt-pop that is superb, loaded with fun and introspection, and a heartfelt reminder that we’re all okay. One might consider the fact that Okay Kenedi just released her first album somewhat miraculous. Her father is a fundamentalist pastor, and she wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music growing up in Cumming, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. After she finally played music professionally, she had just given up on the dream when things took a turn. Recorded at Ivy Manor in the legendary music recording area of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Okay’s debut album “A Casual Introduction Is Hard to Come By ” is a wonderful ride of alt-pop music with every song displaying its own vibe. For instance, the song “Dress Better” is a sure-fire party anthem, while “Fathers Want Sons” is a thoughtful, reflective slow number. The rest of the album is pretty much everything in between. But the path to this rousing debut album wasn’t easy. Growing up in Cumming, Georgia, Okay Kenedi’s existence seemed far from big city life. She was only allowed to listen to worship or contemporary Christian music, despite how important music was in her early life. “My grandmother played piano for the church, and they practiced all the time,” Okay says. “I've spent a lot of time with her, and I took an interest in piano at a really young age—probably because I was raised around it. So, my parents put me in lessons around five years old, and I took nine years of lessons.” She knew she had a knack for music, a love strengthened in middle school. Okay started teaching herself guitar with the help of YouTube videos, and her middle school chorus teacher allowed her to bring her guitar to school. “She would let me stick my guitar in her office and … come into her classroom in the mornings and play piano,” Okay says. “I wrote her an original song in eighth grade as a goodbye from me and all my friends who were in choir. I wrote it with five other friends, with our 13-year-old minds. I'm sure it was horrific but beautiful at the same time.” In high school, Okay auditioned to be in theater mainly because she was told that twice a year there was a showcase where she could bring her guitar and play. The audition went well, and she says that she accidentally ended up in the advanced theater travel group. “I knew nothing about theater, and it horrified me,” she says, “but I did, in fact, get to play twice a year with my guitar and sing a song.” Courtesy of Okay Kenedi Okay recalls writing her own version of a song from Wicked and the theater teacher actually liking it. She didn’t know it then but through all of her musical experiences, the building blocks were being put in place for a future in music. As it turned out, she did like the advanced choir program and says that being in choir, musical theater, and music production in high school helps her musically. “ l like the tedious work you hate to do ,” she says with a chuckle. “I think that stuff refined a lot of my music. I could pick out a harmony and know what it meant. And I like breath control. We do a lot of vocal exercises. I can't say that I love doing them but I'm grateful that I did it now.” Though she had written songs since she was a kid, she started looking at music more seriously after high school. Okay attended Lee University, a private Christian school in East Tennessee, and the University of North Georgia. Her love for music continued to grow and in 2019, she met Micayla Wise and Sarah Dickerson, now both members of her band, in a Christian group that had a lot of emphasis on music. “I was always writing,” she says. “I wrote tons of songs. I just kept writing all through high school, all through college, but I didn’t do anything with the songs. Micayla was the first person to say, ‘Hey, do you write music?’ So, I was like, ‘Actually, I do.’” Okay played some original music for Micayla, who encouraged Okay to do something will the songs she’d written. It evolved through several genre changes. “You gotta find yourself before you find your genre,” Okay says. “So, it was like going through a lot of pants that didn't fit until I settled into this.” This is the music on Okay Kenedi’s new album, which came oh so close to never happening. In September 2021, Okay felt her music wasn’t gaining any traction. She had booked her final show, which was at a bar in Atlanta. “We have to be adults at some point and pick a career that makes money,” Okay recalls saying to her band. “We have to put gas in our cars, and I need to move out of my parents' house, so this is my last show on the books.” Some crying from the band ensued but logic dictated that it was time to call it quits. They had a lot of fun together, but it was time to move on. As the night of the show arrived, Okay was headlining for a young guy who had just released his debut record. “He had a bunch of people who had come to hear him play,” she recalls. “When I came up to do my set, everyone just left because the crowd was all his friends and family—and he was done. So, it was basically me, the band that I brought, and, like, four friends.” Knowing it was her last show, rather than just going through the motions, she decided to give it her all. Courtesy of Okay Kenedi “I sold that show harder than I sold any show to my four friends.” She was gonna go out with a bang, and she did. “It just so happened that in the back of that room was music producer Dan Hannon ,” she says. He was impressed with her talent and saw lots of potential. He was part of a team that operated Ivy Manor, a recording studio in Sheffield, Alabama, just minutes away from Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and FAME Studios . Dan and the team took Okay under their wings. Besides Dan, an award-winning producer with more than three decades in the music industry, there was former SteelDrivers frontman Gary Nichols , along with producers and engineers such as Clint Ingersoll, Jared Przybysz, and Ivy Manor founder Michael Shane Wright. “I was so new to the way this actually works when you're not trying to do it in your attic,” she says about her new team. “Besides the writing and recording, they even helped me get some stylists in L.A. that designed clothes for me and a hairstylist in Atlanta, and we did 16-hour-a-day rehearsals with me and my live band to polish for the live-show thing. They helped me become an artist.” Of Okay, Wright says he admires her creativity and skill, specifically highlighting her song “Fathers Want Sons” by commenting on her display of skill as a songwriter. Her strength in vocals, as well as her natural charisma and leadership skills, is a trait that Wright sees as integral in a performer. “I was immediately struck by the quality of her songwriting,” Wright says. “She has a unique ability to take her personal experiences [and] translate those [into] universal experiences, then communicate that experience in three or four words.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAQPqSRLmA The hard work is paying off. Five singles have been released thus far: “1 Birthday Behind” , “Dress Better” , “Fathers Want Sons” , “Pharmacy” , and “Young, Dumb, & Naive” . In these songs and the other six on the album, Okay shows a penchant to be both introspective and fun. As for the album title, “When we first made a website, I didn't even know what to put in my bio,” Okay says. “So, I literally put ‘a casual introduction is hard to come by’ in place of where my bio should go. Then I thought, ‘What if we just named my record that?’ It's like an introduction, and it's funny because I didn't know what to say about myself. My record will say it all, so it's a spoof off of that.” “A Casual Introduction Is Hard to Come By” is out now and worth your time to give it a listen. When Okay Kenedi becomes a household name, you’ll be glad you were there from the start because, as her merch says, “We’re all Okay!” For more on Okay Kenedi, her singles, and her 11-track debut album (which dropped today, Oct. 20!), visit her online at www.OkayKenedi.com , Spotify , Bandcamp , Facebook , Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can also access her album, songs, vlog, music accounts, and her signature roast coffee at https://linktr.ee/OkayKenedi . Tim W. Jackson is a seasoned journalist and author with a penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister. He lives in Tuscumbia, Ala., with his super cool artist wife and their dogs, Maple and Ginkgo. 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

Trust Them 'Cuz They're Young, Talented, and Handsome < Back SaxKixAve: Much More Better C.G. Smith Jan 18, 2023 Share Trust Them 'Cuz They're Young, Talented, and Handsome Most musicians are lucky to have one successful project. In a world where there are anywhere from 50,000-100,000 songs being released every day, the market is oversaturated and the chances of breaking through this noise are harder than ever. Musicians who actually do break through and have any kind of success with one group is a rarity, let alone those who can take on and do well with multiple musical projects. New Orleans duo SaxKixAve is comprised of award-winning rapper Alfred Banks and Albert Allenback , saxophonist and flutist of the twice Grammy-nominated group Tank and the Bangas . These two artists are plenty busy with their main gigs, but thanks to the suggestion of Tavia Osbey, manager of Alfred and of Tank and the Bangas, that the two work together at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, these artists started a side project that is truly something special. Their first record, “ I Don’t Wear Suits ”, was released in April 2020 and is a celebration of this collaboration, and the duo has been performing those songs in front of live audiences whenever they can find the time to do so. SaxKixAve is currently finishing up their follow-up record, and I was lucky enough to be able to have them both over to chat about that, about how they make this project work with their busy schedule, and about some of the band’s highlights so far. MaM : I’ve heard a couple different versions of what “kix’ed” this all off. How did this insane, wonderful experiment begin? Albert : Well, Tavia—the manager of Tank and the Bangas and the engine, the logistic and business/life-path mind behind it all—hit me up and said [Alfred] was looking for beats. She said, ‘I know you make beats. Let’s get you in the studio together and see what happens.’ Alfred : It was great … I like Alby. He’s good money. We crack wild jokes. He sent me an email of beats, I picked one, I wrote to it, knock this one out. It was right when COVID hit. So yeah, I got in the studio with this dude, [and] we laughed for about three or four hours before we even started really recording. I thought, ‘This is a good guy.’ We recorded ‘Tawny’ and I guess he liked what I did. I loved it, and we just kinda kept goin’, kept goin’, kept goin’. Then it was like, ‘Hey man, you wanna make this a thing?’ Albert : It was like a 'Step Brothers' moment. Alfred : Yeah! He was like, ‘Yeah!’ I was like, ‘Aight.’ [sic] Albert : Are we in a band? Alfred : Are we a band?! Albert : Yeah, I think so! Alfred : (to Albert) Do you remember how we came up with the name? I know we joke about it. Albert : I remember us opening a Word document and trying out different fonts and stuff. I don’t think we tried it phonetically. I don’t think we ever would have tried this dumpster fire of a phonetic pronunciation—have you ever tried to say it fast? Albert then attempts to say the band name SaxKixAve quickly several times in a row. Albert : No, it’s terrible. Why did we do this? Maybe we should shorten it to SKA and say we’re bringing ska back and hire a trombone player. (laughter) Alfred : Definitely. Nah, I think this is one of the best things I think I’ve ever done. I enjoy this so much. In 2018, Banks was named "Best Hip-Hop Artist" at the Best of the Beat, presented by New Orleans' premier music publication, Offbeat Magazine . He followed that up with the 2019 Big Easy Award for Best Rapper, presented by Gambit Weekly . credit: Gary Governale MaM : It’s opened you up. Not just personally but creatively, too. You’re now singing a little bit. Alfred : Definitely. [Singing] was something I always wanted to do, but I didn’t really have the producer to help bring it out in the right way that would make me sound good, because my voice doesn’t have a lot of range. I can hit some notes but not too crazy. So, someone [who] could make something that could make me sound even better than I am … I think Albert does that. Rapping to shit I wouldn’t normally rap over—he’s down to go there with me. He’s down to do some really wild stuff, and I’m down to at least try and see what happens. In 2020, the two performed live as a duo for the first time at an Onbeat Session for Offbeat Magazine filmed at Loyola University. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiYRqaIQaDc Alfred : That was the very first time we had ever performed together, ever. How nerve-wracking was that?! Albert : It was terrifying. Alfred : I was scared out of my mind. Albert : (to Alfred) Doing this thing with you, having to do it live and perform the songs, I’ve become a much better piano player the past two years, and you don’t put a lot of pressure on me. We don’t put a lot of pressure on each other. Alfred : I don’t know how to read music. I’m not about to insult or critique someone when I don’t even know what you’re doing. Albert : I’m not a rapper—I’ve tried. It’s more difficult than it looks! (from the album “I Don’t Wear Suits”): MaM : So, have Albert’s rapping skills have gotten better? Alfred : I think Albert has more skills than he thinks. Maybe he couldn’t be a ‘rapper’ rapper, but (to Albert) you’re a good writer. You might not have rapper swag per se, but you could rap. Albert : I could deliver it, but it might not be believable when attached to a body—MY body. (laughter) Alfred : (to Albert) You really understand how songs go. He’s a dope-ass writer outside of being a musician. Albert : I just got [sic] to say this: As my rapping skills have improved, so, too, have Alfred’s declined. (laughter) It’s perfectly even, the way things have gone down. It’s more of a parasitic thing. (to Alfred) I think I’m stealing your rap life force. (laughter) MaM : Your songs have a wonderful mix of silly and serious. What’s y’all’s vision for what SaxKixAve is now and what it can be in the future? Albert : I think we want to have this digestible funny thing, because we’re both naturally funny and when we get up on stage, we’re not sure what it is, but something happens between us that generates what people have been calling entertainment. (Alfred breaks out in laughter.) Some sort of passable thing happens. We want it to be funny, but we want the funny to help communicate. Our natural state is tinged with melancholy. Our natural state is more depressive … more low energy. So, if we have this high-impact thing that’s kind of funny, then we can get in things; there's no other way to say this: We laugh so we don’t cry. It’s something that I’ve … learned watching Tank—how do you interface with the audience? You can be doing the best stuff in the world, but if you have any contempt or if you’re just holding the spoon of baby food out of reach of a toddler, that’s just rude. You should interface with the crowd so you can get it to them. We want this mix of goofy so we can be ultra-serious, and we want to be ultra serious so the funny stuff is even funnier. Alfred : I disagree with everything he just said. I’m here for the money. (More laughter ensues.) Alfred : We’re both very serious. We’re both really good at what we do—like, obnoxiously good at what we do. In the back of my mind, it’s about making how good we are palatable. Sometimes being really good can push people away like it’s not even relatable. I think the comedy takes the edge off. It’s like, ‘Let’s just vibe and have fun. Some of it is just on the cuff, but we give ourselves that room. In our other situations, there’s a lot of structure. For us, the future, people are going to hear … the music is going to be even much more better [sic] than it is now. More jokes. It’s just going to be unapologetically amazing. Albert : SaxKixAve: much more better [sic]. Alfred : That’s grammatically correct. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Was there a moment when you both knew you had something? Alfred : That [first] recording session. I always tell that story [about the song] ‘Tawny’ when I say [the word] crib. [Albert] was like, ‘Dude, can you yell ‘crib'?’ and I was like ‘What?’ Albert : Like 15 times. Alfred : I had to yell it and I was like, ‘Why am I doing this? This is stupid.’ Then he played it back and I was like, ‘Oh … yeah.’ That was the first time I trusted him. (to Albert) When did you feel like we had something?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLpjIRY0OuU Albert : When I knew we had something was when it was backed up by a crowd. I think we were doing Tip’s (Tipitina’s) or something. You said a few things in a row that I didn’t find very funny, but people were losing their minds. They were also losing their minds with the songs, and I was like, ‘What’s happening?’ There are things that only happen once per show [like] Alfred [going] off on this freestyle thing; we usually do this at the show. He’ll just freestyle rap for, like, five minutes. You’ve seen it: People hold up stuff out of their pockets [for him to rap about]. As I see the crowds more and more, I’m just like, ‘Wow, well let’s just be honest and a little unsure of ourselves, because apparently somebody likes that.’ MaM : Your dynamic—when you come together, it’s something you wouldn’t expect, I think, from seeing you both in your respective projects. It just works somehow. Alfred : I think that shit’s amazing, too. That Tav (Manager Tavia) ... maybe she didn’t see SaxKixAve, but she just thought we’d do good together. I don’t see Al all the time. We’re both doing our own thing, but every time I see him it’s like we were just hanging out yesterday. I don’t know if it’s because of our same sense of humor—the way that we’ve come to some recent discoveries about ourselves, but we just gel really well. (to Albert) Outside of the music, I can actually hang with you; that comes through, too. [Another] moment I knew we had something was [during a show] when the mic cord came out, I put [it] back in maybe halfway through the verse, and I finished the song. We had another song after that, but I was like, ‘Yo, Al, audible, play a beat.’ I freestyled about me f**kin’ up, and the crowd lost their minds. I was like, ‘Yeah, we got somethin’ here. I don’t think we can lose. This is incredible.’ That shit was dope. (to Albert) What was the first big show we did? I think when we did Performance Inception ... when you opened for yourself? Albert : Yeah! When SaxKixAve opened for Tank and the Bangas at one of The Broadside shows [last year]. Alfred : That was the first time I think Tank and the Bangas had [sic] saw us. When they came back and said, ‘You guys are amazing,’ I was like, ‘Yeah, we’re lit. We are LIT.’ credit: Gary Governale Albert is known for wearing short shorts all the time. MaM : Albert, is it hard for you to be behind the keys when people can’t see the full leg action? Albert : We’ve been workshopping methods to get around that, talking about maybe having a video feed that’s right under the piano, directly pointed at the legs and maybe running some sort of monitor behind Alfred so it’s just my knees constantly while he raps. Alfred : (to Albert) I know you’re joking, dude, but I’ll tell you this: You know what everybody says? They don’t even talk about your bun first; they talk about your legs. I’m not even joking. Everybody [sic] like, ‘Dude, the guy with the legs.’ MaM : I hear you’re working on your next record. Is there a title for it? What can we expect? Will it be similar to the first one? Alfred : There IS a title . (to Albert) Are you cool with that? Albert : Let’s do it! Alfred : (begins to count down) One, two, three … Albert : Wait, on three or right after three? Alfred : Like, ON three. One, two, three: Albert’s legs. (laughter) Albert : Ahhh! Sorry, ok, ok … Go!” Both together : One, two, three … ‘Nectarine Peels.’ Albert : Yes, we know you don’t peel nectarines, [and] we address [that]. MaM : It makes people think, and that’s the point. Alfred : (laughing) It’s provocative, man. Albert : It actually came from a text message. (to Alfred) Didn’t you just send the words nectarine peels or something? I was like, ‘Nectarine Peels?’ Alfred : Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! Albert : So, I said it has a kind of a ring to it. It seems to mean something, and then immediately I went and wrote this little melody and song at the piano when I got that text. I sent it to Alfred the next day. We’ve taken it to mean a whole lot of things thematically. A big part of it is ambition and its corrosive effects on how we think people see us, how we see ourselves, how we want people to see us, and how we want to see ourselves. That’s one of the main themes of it. I think we’ve made some of our best songs ever. It’s about the same runtime [as ‘I Don’t Wear Suits’], but there’s six real songs. Alfred : I feel like the first project, as great as it is, it was us figuring it out. I think for this one, it’s like, ‘Okay, this is dope, but how do we refine it?’ Keep it us, keep it funny, keep it light or, in some instances, not even as light. We have a song where we switch the topic seven times within the song … switch the energy. We kind of have an idea of what we are now. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, no sophomore slump, then? Albert : I think this [album] is way better. We’ll see if people like it, but we have this thing: We love dance music, and we love old school hip-hop. So, we kind of find this thing—we have this sliding scale between boom bap and dance sometimes, and it’s really cool. You see little seeds of that on ‘I Don’t Wear Suits.’ We’re putting the very final touches on it. We’re almost completely finished. We’ve got great features: Mega Ran is on this, Pell is on this, LeTrainiump is on this, HaSizzle’s on this … Alfred : Who else is on there? Albert : Is that it, or is there one more? Alfred : I think Albert Allenback is on it. (laughter) Albert : There’s a fledgling rapper named Lyriqs da Lyraciss from New Orleans, and he’s on this record. Alfred's original rap name was Lyriqs da Lyraciss. Alfred : Bless his little heart. That guy, that guy left us around 2015. Bless his little heart. Albert : That was the first rapper I ever sent beats to. He left me unread. credit: Gary Governale Albert explains how he first tried to work with Alfred back in January of 2014. Albert : I’d been making beats for, like, two months but you couldn’t tell me they weren’t the greatest thing in the world. So, I sent him this impassioned paragraph about how I’m studying music at UNO (University of New Orleans): ‘Here, I made these beats, they’re real songs, and they’re great. Here’s nine of them. Check these out. I don’t use any samples.’ I wrote this to a prospective business partner [and] said, ‘I don’t use any samples. I make THESE biscuits from scratch.’ Alfred replied, ‘Word.’ Alfred : Yeah, I’m bad with that. So, here’s a little secret about me: I get overwhelmed really fast. I get about 20 to 30 DMs a day, and I can’t let one go unanswered. (to Albert) I’m just very bad with that, right? I’m the worst with that. Albert : But you’ve gotten better. You set much better boundaries now, and I’m proud of you. Alfred : I’m trying. Let me ask you a question, Albert: How did you hear me? Albert : I think it was this list in Gambit [Weekly]: the five worst rappers you need to avoid. Alfred : I was number three. Albert : You were all five! (Laughter ensues.) Alfred : I’ve just always wanted to know how you found me. Albert : Must have been someone from UNO shared a video or something. I honestly do not remember how I became your friend or followed you. You were constantly updating your status. MaM : His social game is on point. credit: Gary Governale Albert : It still is to this day! Alfred is just a fountain that you just put digital cups in front of and he says, ‘Here, take more, my child.’ I don’t have that. My fountain is not on. Alfred : It’s out of necessity. It won’t get done otherwise. I want to be successful. I don’t have money, so I don’t have a person promoting me all the time. So, I literally have to promote myself all the time. So, I just have to respond to that message. It can’t go unread. Albert : (to Alfred) I learn a lot from you, self-promotion-wise. I feel embarrassed and goofy just to be here sometimes. Just to be on planet Earth. I think there’s a lot of people like me. You’re going to post the thing you love to do and for some reason, you feel like it doesn’t matter. It can be some huge stuff and for some reason, we get in our heads and self-consciously you feel like it doesn’t matter, no one cares, but that’s not true. Alfred : (to Albert) I admire you about how much you detach yourself from it. I think that’s the illest shit ever, because I could never be that way and I admire someone that can. Albert : You inspire me. Like, when we make a video or a skit or something, or make an announcement, the only reason it gets done or posted with any kind of schedule or intensity or intention or commitment is because I feel obligated to live up to what you got [sic] goin’ on. So, I really appreciate your help in sharing more and feeling less embarrassed about self-promoting. I come from that tradition of people of ‘don’t talk about yourself too much.’ Alfred : One of the main things of this group, I really want people to know Albert Allenback as a solo act. I want people to know him because he’s really good. I just want people to know this motherfu**er is amazing. Drop your nuts, Cuz! Albert : Well, thank you. I will take that into consideration when it comes time to lower my testicles. credit: Gary Governale MaM : You both have your successful projects. How do you find time to do SaxKixAve? Is it just those slivers of free time? Albert : Yep, when we can; that’s the only way. We have conversations. We’re like, ‘Hey, you know what? I still really like you, still like doing this, but I’m busy right now.’ We’re really good at being able to keep a good, professional relationship. We’re close, but I think maybe there’s a part of us—some internal kill switch—that doesn’t let us get too close or something? It works really well. Alfred : (to Albert) I respect you and your time. I think one of the things you did early on was lay the boundaries of your time. I think I did that very early, too. I respect that. I know that when you’re running with Tank and the Bangas, you’re busy as shit. When I’m dolo, I’m busy as shit. We both respect each other’s time. So, when we HAVE time, I try to be as malleable as possible, given his schedule. I do a lot of shit, but I do have a little bit more free time than he has. So, I’m like, ‘Yo, when you free?’ ‘I’m free here.’ Done. Albert : That is how it goes. That is true, and you text back FAST. Alfred : That bitch always [sic] in my hand! credit: Gary Governale credit: Gary Governale MaM : There’s a lot of artistic freedom in SaxKixAve. How do you keep from floating away into the creative stratosphere with this, because it seems like opportunities are limitless. What keeps you both grounded and productive? Alfred : We do have some form of an outline of what we expect from each other. We go into the studio with this blank canvas. It’s not huge though. It’s a nice-sized canvas that we can throw a bunch of shit at and scrape off the paint that doesn’t work. We aren’t just throwing darts at the wall and seeing what sticks.” Albert : Fortunately, we know that we can do a lot of things, but I think we’ve also seen enough people try to do too many things. We have made a concerted effort to at least make an attempt to identify what we do the best That keeps us in the same bowling lane. Alfred : Definitely. Otherwise, you start making all kinds of weird shit. Not the good weird but that bad weird. That Chris Cornell and Timbaland-weird stuff. MaM : Things that just shouldn’t exist. What have been some highlights on stage so far? Alfred : So, a guy at Tipitina’s was saying my job (freestyling to things people hold up) was easy because people bring out the same things, and I was like, ‘Dude, I can literally freestyle about anything.’ Albert : (to Alfred) He was giving you shit because, ‘You can prepare for a phone and a lighter, and a comb, and keys.’ Alfred : So, I was like, ‘Go ahead, do whatever.’ I didn’t know that they had got [sic] together because Albert, him, and one other person were just pulling shit onstage, and I just knocked it out every single time they brought something out. That was one of the bigger eruptions we’d had. Albert : We had a Shop Vac, and a dolly, a partition, and a barricade … Alfred : … an ice chest, an orange cone. I just freestyled. The reaction of the crowd … felt good. French Quarter Fest was, by far, top five of my favorite shows I’ve done with you. Albert : Yeah. We had a drummer; it was great. Alfred : The story behind the set is so crazy. Albert : Oh yeah. It was horrible rain, and we weren’t gonna’ get to do the set. Pell stayed, but HaSizzle and LeTrainiump were gonna sit in with us and the rain messed everything up. Everyone else had other stuff to do, but then they let us do like 35 or 40 minutes and that was amazing. One of my favorites was from that Tip’s show as well. It was either a girls’ weekend or a bachelorette party—I couldn’t read the t-shirts—but they did NOT like us. First of all, we came out to this song of Alfred’s called ‘Too Much,’ which is a beat I made, and it is entirely his fault for picking it. (Albert laughs) It’s a wild, ecstatic, frenzied beat—wild music—and we came out to that hard. We came out swinging; we were spinning around and jumping. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p-_D-Kh6X8 There were eight to 10 older women in matching sequence and t-shirts, who just wanted to celebrate Karen or whatever. They were not having it with us. I pointed them out and said, ‘Hey, I know we came out swinging, but we’ll get you back.’ By Alfred’s freestyle, they were into it and having a great time. My other favorite: We played a show [at a gallery] and there was a drum set up on stage. Alfred was doing his freestyle, so I grabbed a cymbal and walked it into the crowd, held it up, and Alfred rapped about it. I didn’t put it back, which is what got me in trouble. This drum set belonged to a kid at NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts), and this 14-year-old kid came up to me after the set and he was pretty pissed. He wanted to fight me. I felt more like I related to him than anything because when I was 14, if you had touched my saxophone, I’d be like, ‘What the f**k is wrong with you? Where do you get off touching my shit?’ So, I understand, but it was funny because this fourteen-year-old kid really wanted to fight me because I moved his cymbal. Something clicked where I knew I was now an adult, because I didn’t feel like I was another fourteen-year-old being dressed down; I felt like I was able to take my lick. ‘Hey, you know what? I’m actually sorry and I understand why you feel that way, and I shouldn’t have touched your shit without asking.’ credit: Gary Governale MaM : I know y’all have jokes. What’s your favorite joke right now? Albert : What’s the difference between a chickpea and a garbanzo bean? (Silence for a few moments as the joke goes over my head.) I’ve never had a garbanzo bean on my face. (Much laughter ensues.) Alfred : There’s no way I could ever top that. MaM : Your social media videos are pretty funny. Do you guys sketch them out before you do them, or do you just hit record and go? Alfred : Definitely sketch them out. Albert : We fancy ourselves, against our better judgement, as some sort of amateur sketch comedy team. We are NOT. That’s why we make music. Listen, we’re musicians first; we’re not Saturday Night Live writers, okay? This is a means to an end. Don’t hold us accountable for this. A lot of our videos are Alfred doing funnier shit in the moment than either of us could’ve come up with just writing it out. Alfred : Yeah, those videos are great. I think we’ve had two go viral. You know its popular when you get those assholes that are like, ‘This shit isn’t even really that funny.’ Those trolls. It’s like, ‘Yes! We did it, baby!’ (laughs) Albert : At least they feel something. We spend much more time than we’d care to admit coming up with these. Alfred : I really enjoy doing it. I don’t enjoy it as much as the music, but I do enjoy creating because we both have funny shit in our head, and we live in a time we can legit act it out. Albert : And it feels like a break from the music. It feels like going into woodworking or something. There’s no pressure on this. I’m just building a cabinet; I’m not making my life’s work, which is what the music can feel like sometimes. You have to step back and be like, ‘Hey, chill out, because this is putting pressure on you.’ Spoiler alert: You don’t make great things when you feel a lot of pressure. Maybe some people feel like the pressure gets it going for [them] but for me, I have to be in a relaxed state and let good things happen; otherwise, I’ll shape myself into all kinds of molds that aren’t me. Alfred : I ain’t [sic] gonna lie, I enjoy pressure. I think back to, like, 2010 when I was freestyle battling guys and that feeling of being scared shitless out of my mind, jumping on stage in front of these people, not knowing what I’m about to say and just reveling in it. Being like, ‘Oh, I just can’t wait … but what if I f**k up? This is great; I love it.’ Albert : (to Alfred) Props to you. That’s amazing. That’s like being a stand-up comedian. I could never imagine. Alfred : I may sound cocky, but I’m very much an amazing rapper and I am looking for a moment to stumble. I want to f**k up because I want to learn where I f**ked up at. I want to perfect that and do it again and be much better at it. Albert : Sometimes you just want to feel human. (laughter) Alfred : Seriously, though; I really do enjoy the pressure. Pressure makes diamonds. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, Albert, you’ve been making beats for a long time. You have a decent back catalog of tracks to pull from. This new album, is it pulling from that or are you coming up with new stuff on the spot? Albert : Some of it is brand new, some of it is ideas that I’ve been working on for years. You make these things and see what comes out. It’s new to everyone else, but it’s something you may have been working on for so long. I got some advice really early on. I forgot this fella’s name, but it was the first time Tank and the Bangas were playing a super lounge at Essence Festival. We were getting to hang out at Essence, and it was awesome. Kelly Price’s music director was there. He said he had started making beats late in life. He said, ‘Just make it and hold on to it because you might like it, but you never know who will.’ I’ve really taken that into account. I have probably over 1,000 songs or song ideas. At this point, I’ve been making beats and writing songs and doing full productions for almost 10 years now. I have a lot built up; it’s just a matter of, ‘Man, you remember that one I made a long time ago? Let’s see if that works.’ That’s how I get to a lot of good stuff, and then seeing what Alfred does. It’s like two comets hitting. Now I’m more likely to try a few more things and be like, ‘You know what? This is working. We’re going to go with what works, what’s good, how he said that this time, and how he was feeling this time, and how I was feeling right here.’ Just going more with using the stuff as it happens, instead of, and this is a nice tie-in—this is what ‘Nectarine Peels’ is about—instead of making yourself a delicious, fragrant, niche, sub-variant of a peach called a nectarine that some people are going to love and that some people aren’t even going to know about or care about … trying to force yourself into being an apple or an orange or any of the other Renaldo and LeBron-level fruits. You can do that, or [you can] stay being your nectarine delicious self and probably make yourself and a lot more people a lot happier than if you’d tried to be a banana. Alfred : I disagree with everything he just said. (laughter) Albert : SaxKixAve: much more better. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Is there anything else you’d like to say about the new record? Alfred : This new album slaps. Albert : It’s good! Alfred : ‘ Nectarine Peels’ ... I'm very proud of it. I like it. MaM : How many tracks are going to be on it? Alfred : About nine in total. Three skits. Albert : It’s like a 23-minute runtime, but it’s, like, nine tracks. We don’t want anybody to have to skip a song because they want to skip one of our stupid skits. I want to give people total control. Honestly, just take the skit off the album if you want, that’s fine, but we want to give people the option. Alfred : This album is amazing. Albert’s production on it is nuts. The songs came out so good. Lyrically, I feel like I’m doing some really cool things on here, jumping out of the box on stuff. We’re just having fun, and I really think people are going to like it. Currently, there is no release date for SaxKixAve’s second album, Nectarine Peels , but you can check out their website for any updates and be sure to follow them on social media. YouTube: @saxkixave1922 Instagram: @saxkixave Facebook: facebook.com/Saxkixave Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/saxkixave *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? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

There is always time to catch a classic movie. < Back Top 5 Movies That Rock Jeff Holmes Jul 22, 2024 Share There is always time to catch a classic movie. A catchy score in a film can elevate it from good to great. The movies in this list take that idea a step further. These picks are all about the music. Whether it's blues , classical , heavy metal , jazz , or just plain old rock n' roll , they show us why music is so valuable in our lives. 1. Amadeus Amadeus is the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and what shaped his music. Mentorship is challenging, especially when your protege` has more talent. For Salieri, Mozart proves to be a challenge and much, much more. This Best Picture winner (1984) shows us talent alone does not a musician make. Two sides of the same coin, Salieri and Mozart both demonstrate what a tormented creative genius looks like. Bravo Amadeus ! 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R4fbdzzXok 2. The Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers follows Jake and Elwood as they hurry to raise money. Their childhood orphanage is being shut down and they're the last hope. The only way to accomplish their goal is by getting the band back together. Reconnecting with each member of the band proves challenging. Along the way, the band proves to be true musical outlaws, as they stay one step ahead of the law. Don't worry, there are plenty of jams along the way. Ride along with the one, the only, the Blues Brothers. 1980 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCR4c1zPyk 3. Pirate Radio Pirate Radio is the story of how rock n' roll fought to survive in 70s era Britain. Rock music was officially banned by the British government during this time. A workaround to this was moored offshore boats that played nothing but rock. The government opposed these so called 'pirate' radio stations by doing everything they could to shut them down. This hilarious movie, complete with a perfectly executed soundtrack, illustrates that deep down we're all rockers in one way or another. Rock n' roll will never die! 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRh1-cyWfGQ 4. Soul An animated film from the masters at Pixar, Soul doesn't include any immediately recognizable characters, however, the film is certainly a one of kind experience. Joe Gardner, a middle school band teacher, is taken on both a musical and spiritual journey to find his place in life. He is consumed with waiting for his chance to perform professionally. Will his dream come true or does the universe have other plans? 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs--6c7Hn_A 5. This is Spinal Tap This is Spinal Tap stands out as both a comedy film and rock and roll masterpiece. An originator of the mockumentary style, the film took its time growing an audience. Today it is undoubtedly a classic, equally known for its rocking soundtrack as well as its myriad of jokes. If you're a fan of more modern musical comedy acts such as Tenacious D , Weird Al , Flight of the Concords , etc, and somehow haven't yet seen it - get on it! You won't want to miss This is Spinal Tap! 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F0VyKp4Ik Be sure to check these films out if you haven't yet because they are some of my favorite films that rock! -Jeff- 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

Matt Mahaffey is Just Being HimsElf < Back Self-Made Genius: Tracing the Musical Legacy of Matt Mahaffey Noah Hughey Jul 10, 2025 Share Matt Mahaffey is Just Being HimsElf Matt Mahaffey doesn't mind if you’ve never heard of him or his band, Self . But if you have, the release of their first single in a decade might be a sign that he’s not quite ready to let go of the band that jumpstarted his career. The release of the single last December, ' Love You Less ,' coupled with a resurgence of the band on platforms like Spotify has led to a burgeoning community of new fans online in 2025, 30 years after the release of their first album, Subliminal Plastic Motives . Released October 24, 1995 For Mahaffey , music has always come naturally. “When I was a kid, once I got drumsticks, I would go beat on, you know, fresh barbwire to the fields,” he said from his home studio in Nashville, Tennessee. “You know, like, cause they would string it and it would have a tone to it, like, bzz . And each level of it was a different tone.” Born in Kingsport, the musical ballast he had access to was worlds apart from the sound he would end up producing in his early career. “My parents had disco and easy listening and Little River Band and Eagles and stuff like that,” he said. “I was just like, the 70s stuff was so boring to me, that I had access to in East Tennessee .” However, when an opportunity to join a local band sprouted up, he could not refuse. “And they're just like, we need a drummer. And I'm like, oh my God, I'm going to audition for a band,” he said. “Next thing I know, I'm like 13 and playing at Dollywood with them every summer, you know. And as soon as I could drive (...) I would drive up to Bristol, Tennessee (...) and just,” he began mimicking his rhythmic ticking of the drum, “all night long for hours and get paid 50 bucks or whatever.” A still shot from our interview Looking back at it, Mahaffey expresses gratitude for his origins in the south. When he first lived in Nashville and Murfreesboro during college, its reputation stood out as a cradle for country music. But the late eighties and early nineties were a time for change not only musically, but technologically. For Mahaffey , this meant the harmonies of traditional bluegrass came together with an influx of west coast hip hop to form a single artistic vision that remained in the back of his mind throughout his early career. “That's one thing that is my superpower, I always hear harmonies all the time and rhythm,” he said. “I started playing in rock bands in college and was a good drummer. And so in Murfreesboro, where I went to school at MTSU, there just wasn't a lot of drummers. It's a music school (...) And so, next thing I know, [I] was just playing in a different band several times a week. It's like punk rock on Monday, piano pop on Wednesday, reggae on Friday. And that was cool because that exposed me to a lot of different styles and meeting a lot of different people that just had different viewpoints on how to make music.” The project that was Self wouldn’t have been totally possible without his older brother, Mike Mahaffey . “He was my idol, you know, and he was so good at the guitar and he practiced so hard when we were kids. Then, when he was 18, he was just like, ‘I can legally go join a touring band,’” Mahaffey recalled his brother’s success swelling with pride. “He just moved up this rung really quickly of these agencies, the next thing I knew he was in Florida with a band called Blackfish signed to Epic Records (...) we were, just, both just in disbelief. And they made a record with Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie , who produced Radiohead's first album .” But for Mike, the ladder stopped in Florida with Epic Records , prompting a call home that would eventually give the world Self . “I was making beats in my dorm room and my brother called me from an Island, And he was like, ‘Hey, they're not putting out our second record. Can I come write with you?’ And I was like, ‘Come on,’” said Mahaffey . “And I had written ‘ So Low ’ and ‘ Marathon Shirt ’ for the first album. But it was just beats on a four track and he came in and just put his guitars on them and we got a record deal. Poof. And I was like, ‘Well, I guess we're a band, bro.’” Official video for 'So Low' Those first songs the brothers produced would go on to become the band’s first album, Subliminal Plastic Motives , which was released in October 1995. Setting a sort of unspoken precedent for their discography, the album seems to capture the essence of the era it was produced in its unique musical concoction. There is a distinct grunge that hits immediately, reminiscent of the sounds of bands like Nirvana which had taken the rock scene by storm during the mid nineties. And yet, less than a minute into the album’s first song ' Borateen ,' Mahaffey’s experimentation with hip hop and the unconventional electric sounds he’d been listening to in college are unmistakable. “Subliminal Plastic Motives has a special place in my heart because it was done to analog tape,” Mahaffey said. “You couldn't Google how to get a certain sound or make something work. You just had to figure it out (...) We beat on pots and pans, we everything and it's all very live. And this is before like you had a bajillion loops at your fingertips. It's more personal because it's farm to table. It's handcrafted, there's no presets back there.” Self was signed to Spongebath records that same year, and added Chris James as their keyboardist, Jason Rawlings on drums, and bassist Tim Noble (who’d be replaced by Mac Burrus after a 1997 tour). It seemed at the time that Mike had brought his accelerationist star power to the band. “Out of the gate, Lou Maglia [President, Zoo Entertainment] (…) sunk a million dollars into promoting the band to the industry,” Mahaffey said. “So we were in all the magazines, all the industry magazines, and we made videos, and they were on MTV and - they didn't really play them a lot, but they were on there - so people would recognize you, those types of things.” Official video for 'Cannon' from Subliminal Plastic Motives With the influx of money from major labels, the band, and Mahaffey in particular, now had the resources to experiment with the harmonic project that had been sitting in his mind since college. “Most of my successes with Self are more just artistic internal pats on the back,” he said, patting his own back and smiling. “Being able to have a huge budget and do whatever I want to in the recording studio, be like, ‘I want strings on this.’ And then next thing I know, there's a room full of string players and like, we're doing it,” he motioned around himself, as if he had been taken back to that studio, surrounded by a string section, an erratic passion inflamed in his eyes as he recalled his gluttonous request fulfilled by the studio. “It was just blatant, you know, waste, wasting money. But at the same time, like, you're making records. I was making records like my heroes made records. And that felt very good.” This might have been where the story ends. I could tell you that Self was endlessly propelled to fame, that they signed onto the early Dreamworks label at the turn of the century, contributing ' Stay Home ' to the original Shrek film soundtrack . That they influenced music history forever with the resources at their disposal to continue experimenting with the available sounds before them. But a combination of factors that fans and outside speculators alike have interrogated for the last 20 years would ultimately dim the shine of Self . First was the collapse of the Dreamworks label in 2003. “They went to a lot of artists on that label and were like, ‘Hey, you guys, we let you do what you want on the first album because we want to have a good reputation for making cool art. This time around, we kind of need something for the radio,’” Mahaffey said. At the same time, he was working on Self’s fifth studio album, Ornament and Crime . But just before they were to release the album, Dreamworks sold the label, which was ultimately dissolved, leaving the album on hiatus. Self's Ornament & Crime album Second was the untimely passing of Mike Mahaffey in 2005 , which happened suddenly while the younger Mahaffey was on tour in London with Beck . Losing one half of the creative vision behind the band and its lead guitarist, in the eyes of many fans, was the shattering point. That might be an overzealous exaggeration of the story behind Self . But Mahaffey said, “for obvious reasons,” his brother’s passing did effectively confirm at least a short period of radio silence from the band as their personal and professional lives changed elsewhere. It was this outside change that, as he conveyed it, seemed to have the greatest impact on not just Mahaffey’s career but the whole band’s collective future. When Maglia signed Self onto Zoo Entertainment ’s record alongside Spongebath in 1997, Mahaffey recalled him calling their music ahead of its time. Their distinct electric sound that blended the rhythm of hip hop with the harmonies of rock and pop music in a way that pioneered the alternative scene so early on was among the first of its kind on an industry level. “I think I was trying to blend a lot of different things and put a lot of square pegs in round holes that hadn't really gone together yet,” he said. “I wore all my influences on my sleeve, (...) I was trying to cram Prince and Depeche Mode and Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails and Weezer , (...) and, you know, funk and jazz and everything into this tiny package.” Despite the millions of dollars poured into Self so early on, however, Mahaffey says the record buying public at the time largely felt like it was a lot of noise. Yet, that doesn't seem to hurt his feelings all that much. “When I look at it, I'm super thankful because I have friends that had a big number one song, and they're my age and they're like, ‘Well, I gotta go out on the road for three months and leave my kids and sing that damn song every night,’” he said. He looked to his right, a smile creeping onto his face as he began to say the next few sentences through a raspy chuckle. “And it's like, that's what I wanted. That's what you want when you get into rock, we're like, ‘I just want that hit song that everybody loves.’ And I never had one because my stuff's weird.” Perhaps at the time that was true. As Mahaffey describes it, perhaps the public’s “music ADD” wasn’t equipped for the combinations Self put together, the eclectic variety that birthed every new Self song, and the genreless limbo it existed in. Mahaffey still had to earn a living after Self’s indefinite pause in 2005 . “So I started working on Shrek and I started working on films. I started working for Hans Zimmer . And I was just like, this is where I belong. We make weird music. Composition is the place,” he said. “I toured in Beck's band for two years and got to play with Radiohead and every band that I grew up listening to. So it's like, and I still didn't like it, you know? I liked the people I was with, but it's just like, yeah, you're in Rome, but for like two hours, right? You're not seeing Rome. You're just physically there (...) I am more of a studio rat.” So, a studio rat Mahaffey became, pursuing composition as his full-time job while Self became something of a distant, if not fond memory. The same was true of his band mates, who would produce Prince’s last albums and book talent on the Jimmy Kimmel show , respectively. Mahaffey equated their collective work ethic to the band Pavement, which broke up in 2000, returned to tour in 2010, and once more from 2022 to 2024, toying with the idea of a new album. “They live all over the place and they’re just like, ‘You want to tour? Yeah, I got a minute.’ And they rehearse a couple of times and they go tour,” Mahaffey said. “And I was like, let's be like Pavement . We'll just do that.” Mahaffey smiled as he recounted his new career in composition, reiterating the love he has for Self that ultimately made it possible. “I love making records, but I love scoring,” he said with a boyish grin on his face. “Like it is just, I can't wait to work every morning. I’m just like ‘Coffee! Oh boy!’” He began to laugh to himself, “I'm so excited about my work all the time. ‘Cause it's infinitely rewarding. ‘Cause it's a brand new challenge every single day.” Acting as Self , Mahaffey did release their 2014 EP Super Fake Nice in a unique moment for him after he had built his dream studio, but it was more in line with the Pavement method of a periodic release in the middle of his busy days producing over 80 minutes of music for animation a month than it was a full return of Self . The EP was met with largely positive reviews, but some of the revamped sounds of the band in its modern form, taking on new harmonic equations to generate songs such as ' Runaway ' did throw some reviewers off, expecting a mid 90s nostalgia-fest. Released July 29, 2014 In the background, however, the platforming power of the internet to promote and store the unique sounds of Self would serve as not only a time capsule of their moment, but an opportunity for new fans with broader tastes for music in the future to discover the hidden gem that was the band. When Mahaffey finally got verified on Spotify thanks to a manager friend, however, this quiet underbelly of Self fandom would explode for the first time in 10 years. “It just got ridiculous. Where it was like 40,000 [followers], you know, I got 40,000, what is going on?” said Mahaffey . His verification on Spotify couldn’t have come at a better time, either. Other alt rock bands were getting verified and pushed together by Spotify’s new AI algorithm, such as Tally Hall and Lemon Demon . And it was one night, he passionately recalled, his daughter had the answer as to why. “She's like, ‘Dad, I think I've sleuthed it out.’ And she shows me her phone. And it's a video of Talley Hall listening to Dead Man and people thinking that it's a new Talley Hall song.” What this signaled as well was that Self was doing well with kids. Young people, as young as 14 years old, were discovering Self through TikTok edits and montages featuring some of Self’s most standout work. As the fandom surged online, they have begun scouring the internet for all the lost media of Self , one young fan commenting under the song, ' No One Knows You ' on YouTube , “LOL THE WAY EVERYONE IS DISCOVERING SELF AT THE SAME TIME.” 'No One Knows You' by Self To Mahaffey , who once spoke to Alternative Press a decade ago about the influx of younger fans 20 years after Self’s debut , to see that influx continue at full steam 30 years after Subliminal Plastic Motives has been nothing if not gratifying. Today, Mahaffey continues to compose full time, still fulfilled by the new musical creations he gets to experiment with day in and day out. “I'm writing more in this day and age than I ever did pumping out Self songs,” he said. More than that, the freedom his new life has given him has allowed him to more passionately pursue his family life alongside his work. “If I'm not doing that, then I'm hanging out with my kids. It's like, I want to be a competent father. My daughter has a rock band. Covered ‘ Runaway ’ two weeks ago at a show and didn't tell me about it. And that is incredible.” He laughed to himself. 'Runaway' by Self As 2024’s release of ' Love You Less ' indicates, Mahaffey isn’t ready to let go of the band that made all of this possible. “I want to do a record. And I have a bunch of cool stuff,” Mahaffey said, pointing behind himself to his home studio setup. In between different unfinished works, he took the time to polish off the peppy, upbeat love ballad that wasn’t quite what he had in mind for a sixth album. The song could be taken as indicative of what a new Self record will sound and feel like, carrying with it two worlds: One, the band’s distinct blend of 90s hip hop and alt grunge that is hard to recreate unless, like Mahaffey, you were literally there. The other will be the new sounds he’s been listening to, more instrumental, grand, no doubt working in his composition experience to give Self fans something worth waiting for. “It's one of those things that has to just be a labor of love,” he said. “You can't expect, like, anything in return other than, hopefully, comments online of people being like, ‘I like this.’” To learn more about Self: www.self.is Self Self is a band you like. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Got something for Noah to check out? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Dodies’ music blends powerful riffs with fearless creativity. < Back Unfiltered and Unleashed: The Dodies Redefine Raw Power as a Dynamic Duo Nicole Brice Jul 5, 2025 Share The Dodies’ music blends powerful riffs with fearless creativity. As a child of the 90s, I’m really enjoying the wave of nostalgia in the world currently, especially when it comes to music. I can honestly say we had some of the best music back then. It was raw and impactful—not overly polished, yet still perfect. This sentiment perfectly captures the sound of the next band I have for you, The Dodies , and believe it or not, this band is nowhere near new, but they’re new to me, and now they’ll soon be new to you, too. Credit: Facebook The Dodies are a grunge, alternative, garage rock band from the southern deserts of Israel, but when they are in the states, they call Texas their home. From the first listen, it's clear they are destined for greatness due to the tremendous sound that radiates from the speakers with every note played. Their poetic, introspective lyrics are paired with a deep artistic flair , featuring loud, crunchy guitars, heavy basslines, and powerful drums at times. However, they can also switch gears and perfectly orchestrate a softer, more poppy sound, as if it comes naturally. With their secret weapon producer, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal , this duo has crafted a sound that is uniquely crisp, tight, and full of energy, and I am obsessed. Credit: Facebook Music, at its core, is a personal experience for each of us. I strive to keep my articles authentic and genuine. When I hit play on my iPod to explore The Dodies’ discography , my initial reaction when that first song started playing was, and I said it out loud, “This is so good!” The Dodies consist of two musical talents: Yoni Avittan , the primary vocalist and guitarist , and Ran Aronson , who handles background vocals, bass, keyboards, and drums simultaneously. Watching Ran perform in videos is astonishing; I genuinely have no idea how he maintains the stamina to keep up with everything. It’s truly remarkable. Yoni Avittan’s vocals are always spot-on and showcase an impressive range, soaring like Justin Hawkins of The Darkness . He embodies the quintessential strong frontman with his hypnotic presence and sheer unfiltered talent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ILZKGmFVLc 'Boiling Point' LIVE Since 2020 , the duo has released three full-length albums , and one live album , a notable achievement in an industry often flooded with EPs and singles. Each album was created with precise attention to every detail, down to the order of the songs and the artwork and remind me of some of the great albums of the past for their artistry. In 2020 the Dodies released, It’s One Hell of a Ride , and it is a non-stop journey of exceptional music. Every track is strong, with not a single bad one. One standout for me is the lead track ‘ Boiling Point ,’ which even has a fantastic video on YouTube . I find myself dancing around in my kitchen when I listen to it, but truth be told, this entire album is exceptional, and deserves some serious listening time, so be sure to dive in. Released April 24, 2020 In 2022, Floating in Limbo was released, and it is another amazing album. While listening to it, I couldn't help but wonder: can these guys produce anything less than great? Released April 20, 2022 2025 marked the release of Dreamism , which starts off a bit softer before diving into the signature sound The Dodies have developed, and one can clearly hear a Radiohead and Muse influence with some of these newer songs. Once again, every single track on this album is killer. All killer, no filler, as I like to say. Released February 28, 2025 But, believe it or not, The Dodies don’t just stop with music. Yoni is currently working on a book to complement their trio of albums, bringing everything together full circle. Dynamic, insightful, and brilliant, this duo is poised to blow the roof off modern music. Read on to learn more! MaM : How did the partnership with producer Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal come about? Yoni : We recorded our first album in Austin, TX at Orb Studios . Matt Noveskey knew someone who helped us reach Bumblefoot , and he loved our music. We were really wanting to push it over in the states, and Matt Noveskey was key in helping us reach other people. MaM : One thing I noticed when listening to your three albums this morning was that with his involvement, you have defined your sound. Your sound is your sound. It’s refreshing to have come across your band. Yoni, your vocals are extraordinary. Have you ever gotten the comparison to Justin Hawkins from The Darkness ? Yoni : That is the most frequent one. I do love The Darkness , but I don’t listen to them that much. I listen to that British trio of Radiohead , Muse , and Coldplay – early 2000s type of stuff. That’s mostly what I listen to. Credit: Facebook MaM : Your voice has such range. Is there something you do to warm up or keep it in shape? Yoni : Well, sometimes I do have to do some warm-ups before shows, because if I don’t, it won’t be as good. It is a challenge to sing high. MaM : I can only imagine. With you being a duo, how does that work for a live show, or do you bring in extra musicians to complement what you do? Ran : We don’t usually bring in any additional players on stage. It works for us. It suits the genre, as well, because we do want to keep it basic and rock . I don’t think it would work if we were a prog metal band or something like that. Credit: Facebook MaM : How do you even keep up to play that many instruments? Ran : It is very physical, for sure. I feel like the more I do it, the more I get better. It gets better the more we practice. Working with Ron , with Bumblefoot has been one of the biggest contributions to our sound. He told us that’s your sound – keep it simple. Same thing you do live and just go to the studio with it, and stick to it. It’s very easy to fall into tracking and overdoing it. MaM : I think it’s impressive as hell that it’s just you two in the band. You have such a thick and full sound to your music. How did it come about with just you two? Yoni : Well, it was just more efficient for us. It was more efficient to tour with two people, too. Ran : There are definitely advantages sound-wise, logistics-wise, and we actually used to be a three-piece, but yeah, we just love it in all aspects. Credit: Facebook MaM : Three albums under your belt, and now you have just released Dreamism , which I love the album cover, so my next question is, who designed the cover art for that release? Yoni : Well, I guess I just thought about what correlates to the name of the album. An image of an influx of info in a person’s head – addiction to dreaming and seeing excessive dreaming as a type of sickness or overthinking. We reached out to a certain artist to help with it, and he did a good job by taking a thought I had and making it his own. Ran : His name is Spencer , and we came across him and found all his work. MaM : Album art is big to me, and I still focus in on it because I feel the artwork brings it all together. The cover sets the tone. Ran : It’s getting easier to fall into AI-generated covers. You can spot it right away. He did a great job, and it has his aesthetics with the collage. Yoni : Also, we’ll be coming out with a book called Dreamism with the same cover to go with the album. MaM : Tell me about this. That sounds awesome. Yoni : The novel is about a young musician from southeast Texas who falls in love with his psychiatrist. I then detail their connection and how it helps him overcome depression. The first part of the book is titled “It’s One Hell of a Ride.” The second part is called “Floating in Limbo”, and the last part is called “Dreamism.” The music goes along with the story, and that’s pretty much the premise. It’s my life’s work. Credit: Facebook MaM : I love that, and love that it’s based upon the three albums! I can’t wait to read it! How did you get the inspiration to do something like that? Yoni : Well, I just went to therapy, and that was basically it, and it went well. (laughter) MaM : I love that – so you based it on your life? Fictionalized it. I love that, and I just love the whole creative process. Where do these ideas come from? How do we bring these ideas to fruition? Is there anything you’d like to tell us about the book that you didn’t touch upon? Yoni : It’s getting ready to go, and I’m editing it now. We’re very excited, and we’re gonna post a lot about it online, and try to push it. MaM : What’s the release date? Yoni : I don’t have a release date quite yet, but we’ll let you know. Credit: Ben Anderson MaM : How would you describe your sound to a new listener who has just discovered it? Yoni : I keep switching the genres. Usually, I just say we’re a rock band. It is kinda grunge . MaM : How did you get influenced to do the garage band type of music you do? Yoni : I mean, I guess I listen to a lot of early 2000s rock , but I do feel that the 90s rock captured something that has yet to be topped. The screaming in that music was the best and one of the last great things we ever had. The younger generations right now are still really into grunge and early 90s-style music. That’s pretty much what I grew up with, even though I didn’t grow up in the 90s. Credit: Facebook MaM : I feel like the '90s were one of the last times musicians were truly creative and authentic. By the late 90s to mid-2000s, it had lost its creative spark and become more of a mass-produced, cookie-cutter type of thing. However, look at the industry. The industry stopped pushing garage bands and music with heart and started pushing prefabricated music with no substance. I agree that it was the last great time for music. Yoni : Even in the early 2000s , though, I agree that it was more fabricated, but at least something was going on, you know. I think that after social media, and the rise of social media, it has deteriorated more. MaM : Well, that’s the whole TikTok generation. Some of these artists are like, it’s been great for my music, and I’m like, how? People are hearing snippets, and then they’re not coming to shows, so where is the incentive in that? Yoni : Yeah, they just don’t know what great is. (laughter) Ran : It’s crazy, you hear like one specific part of a song, so you don’t even know the whole song. Let alone an entire album. Yeah, we’re one of those bands who still believe in the concept of albums and want to tell a longer story. A longer, deeper story. Credit: Facebook MaM : What inspires you to create, and how do you find your lyrical concepts come to fruition? For example, I’m a writer and an author, and sometimes a phrase or word will pop into my head when writing a piece, so I’ll write it down somewhere, and then I’ll assemble it all into something at the end. Take us through the creative process. Yoni : Yeah, I feel pretty much the same. I have an idea for a song or lyrics, but I would rather have a melody to go along with it first, so I can fit the vowels correctly with whatever the song ends up being. I don’t want to stick lyrics that have nothing to do with the melody that I’ve written. The melody has to come first. Ran : Yoni writes the songs, and what usually comes to me is the melody and lyrics, and then we work on it together. It becomes a mutual joint process after he has pretty much written the song. We then keep building stuff on it and add new parts. We try not to overdo it and try to give the proper respect for the lyrics and melody. We love to keep it simple. MaM : You don’t force it. You let it happen organically. Ran : Yeah, we don’t force it. If we feel that there’s a place for a violin part or something similar, we add it; if not, we don’t force it. Credit: Facebook MaM : How long does it take you to develop a song? Yoni : Yeah, there’s no formula for it. I guess some songs can take a few months to perfect, and some a few minutes, but overall, if it’s not really there after we first write, then I think it’s kind of useless. I know a lot of songwriters who would have a verse, but nothing else other than that. Ran : Some of the songs from our newest album, ‘ Dreamism ’, we had already recorded even before we recorded ' It’s One Hell of a Ride '. They were already there. We had the concepts early on, and didn’t want to record a song that didn’t fit there. By the time we got to the studio to record the music that had already been in existence for a few years, it had changed, because we kept playing on it and kept working with it. It evolves. MaM : What would you like to achieve in the next five years? Where do you see yourselves musically and professionally? Yoni : I’m embarrassed to expose my wildest dream. MaM : You can keep it vague. Yoni : We want to push the music and book together, and hope that it works. We’re trying to add a deeper aspect to our genre. As The Dodies continue their artistic journey, we can expect even more amazing experiences to unfold. These talented individuals showcase their divine gifts with every note sung and every word spoken, and I can't wait to see what they create in the future. Their latest album, Dreamism , is now available on all streaming platforms. However, to truly appreciate The Dodies' music, I recommend starting from the beginning. Play their first album and immerse yourself in their entire discography . To learn more about The Dodies: The Dodies Store Instagram: The Dodies (@thedodiesband) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify: The Dodies | Spotify Facebook: Facebook Bandcamp: Music | The Dodies X: The Dodies (@TheDodiesBand) / X YouTube: The Dodies - YouTube *All photos are sourced from The Dodies' Facebook page. If any photographers would like credit, please reach out. If it wasn't noted, I couldn't find it. I would love to give proper credit. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? 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

An interview with Travis Marc < Back No Sleep for Deep Sleep Atlantic C.G. Smith Jul 12, 2023 Share An interview with Travis Marc New Orleans-based alt-rock/alt-post-grunge duo Deep Sleep Atlantic is making some pretty big waves with the recent release of their debut album, Prelude . Earlier this year on March 31st , the duo released their debut single ' Bipolar Tendencies ,' a darkly energetic tune less about the mental illness and more about the fragmented way in which society operates. The song was a powerful first step for them, and they’ve successfully backed that power up with the release of their first album. Comprised of singer/guitarist Travis Marc and drummer Daniel Perez , the album is full of creatively catchy lyrics that focus on remaining aware and mindful while facing and connecting to life and its challenges, and on doing so with courage. All the parts on the album were recorded by Travis , and after meeting Daniel , the two joined forces. Daniel Perez and Travis Marc, photo courtesy of Deep Sleep Atlantic Travis is a SAMA-nominated multi-instrumentalist/producer/songwriter originally from Johannesburg, South Africa , who spent time in London with different bands before landing here in the States. He has been playing and writing music professionally for about 25 years. He’s a hell of a guy, a consummate professional, and keeps himself insanely busy. Credit: Gary Governale I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about his musical history, his work ethic, and his most recent project, Deep Sleep Atlantic. Here’s what he had to say: MaM : So, you’re on your third continent. You spent your first 19 years or so in South Africa, then moved to London to play in a band, and now you’re here in New Orleans. How did you end up here, and how does New Orleans rank? TM : So, I was going through some stuff, and it was a real tough period in my life, and I just needed to get away, so I booked myself a trip across America. While I’ve been in bands my entire life and toured pretty much everywhere, there were parts in America I’d never been to. New Orleans was one of those places. I came here and was here for a few days, then I met a girl. We hit it off and we did the distance thing for, give or take, three years; it was tough. We … eventually were like, ‘What are we doing here? Let’s start looking into one of us moving.’ We weighed out the pros and cons and it made more sense for me to move than her. MaM : You had a project in England at the time? TM : I did, I did— Dead Days . In fact, we’ve got a record that we are still trying to finish. We’re doing it remotely, so that record will come out, I’m hoping, this year. At a push, maybe next year. We’re jokingly calling it ‘English Democracy’ because it’s taken us a better part of four years already, but it’s outstanding. We’ve put out three records, and it’s by far the best one. It’s totally different from Deep Sleep Atlantic. MaM : Now you moved down here, happily ever after. How long did it take you to get into the scene here in New Orleans? TM : I auditioned for my first band about six days after I arrived, on the 11th of February. I got married the 22nd. The week before I got married, I went and did an audition. ... It was the strangest audition I’ve done in my life, and I’ve done some weird ones. But I got the gig, and I then went to two jam sessions, both at DMACS, and I think by the 27th or 28th everything started shutting down [because of Covid]. So, it was really bizarre because the day we got the call that people needed to start going home and stuff, I was supposed to play that night. So, at that point I guess I was here for twelve days or so? Thirteen days? I got very lucky because I was working as an assistant at Esplanade Studio at the time, and everything shut down except for the studio. So, while the gigs stopped, the studio was busy as hell, so I was in the studio every single day. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What changes do you think you’ve gone through from the very first project you’ve been in until now? Are there any major changes that you can point out, or were you just out of the womb a natural? TM : Hmmm. That’s a tough one. I’d love to claim that, but no. I still feel like I really have to work, but I don’t mind it. I enjoy the process, you know? I guess there’s no massive changes. I can listen to stuff that I was involved with as a teenager and go, ‘I think I’m a better singer now,’ or, ‘My lyrics definitely make more sense now as a writer,’ but that’s not necessarily fair, because how can you relate to something you wrote as a 15- or 16-year-old and now listen to it and say, ‘Those lyrics are crap.’? Because they weren’t crap at the time. They meant something to me, even though I can’t relate to them now. If I’m really pushed, I’d say I think I’ve become a better writer. I’m less worried about whether I can put all the cool things in and make people think, ‘Oh, wow; what a cool little guitar part.’ I don’t care. It’s all about the song. I do not care about the genre. I do not care about anything else—just the song. Now that being said, I do care about the sonics of the song while we’re living in this it’s-all-cool kind of world, and I do think of little details: ‘Were the snare drum hits consistent or did the one guitar part go out of tune on the last chorus? Or, man, I can hear that sibilance kind of mouth noise. Stuff like that drives me crazy. MaM : We both had music in our lives growing up, thanks to family. Do you think you’d be the same without that experience? TM : It really plays a part. Whether it helps shape you, I’m sure it does. I recently read this very interesting article. This DNA scientist was saying he’s on the cusp of proving that humans are who they are, and it’s set in your DNA from day one, and while your surroundings and upbringing will play a part in who that shapes, the bottom line is you are who you are. Now I don’t know if I believe this, but I’m also not a scientist. It got me thinking. Credit: Gary Governale I definitely had other ambitions and aspirations, other things that interested me that I was gung-ho on achieving, but once I discovered music, none of that mattered. Music was a big part of my upbringing—not to the point where I was playing or anything, although my parents always told me I was doing certain musical things that made [them] go, ‘Huh.’ I don’t know if I’ve spoken of this before, but something that always makes me wonder, especially as I get older, so I was, I guess, luckily, expelled from kindergarten. For a year, I was at home … with my coloring books and my mum. She had a side hustle where she would knit jerseys, beanies, and gloves. She had this room with a big knitting machine and a radio. The radio would stay on, she would do her knitting, and I would sit there coloring in my coloring books while listening to the radio. I fell in love with Fleetwood Mac and Bonnie Tyler, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, Phil Collins—whatever the big hits of the day were—Tom Petty, all that kinda stuff. Keep in mind, I don’t know how knitting machines work now, but I do know that then, it was this long, rectangular thing, and this bracket would go from left to right and then back. It had a timing kind of thing to it. (Imitates the sounds of the machine going back and forth) Now subconsciously, maybe that did something, I don’t know, but I’ll tell you, my parents are adamant it did something. My dad was a printer. He had proper machinery that weighed hundreds and hundreds of tons. So, I had this year off and these machines—they’re called Heidelbergs. So, this thing comes down, almost like a mechanical karate chop. It goes up and it comes down. (Imitates the rhythmic sound of the machine) MaM : (Begins to sing Pink Floyd’s “Money” in time to the sounds) TM : Exactly! I obviously didn’t know who Pink Floyd was, but my parents swore to God that I would, between sitting there in the room with my mum falling in love with these 80’s melodies and standing inside my dad’s factory with this machine, they claim that I would stand there and make up these raps to the machinery timing, or I would play paint buckets, trying to stay in time with this machinery. So, that particular year was everything. I can’t give it all the credit because I don’t know, but I’ve never struggled to work with a metronome, ever. I do put that down to the knitting machine and the Heidelberg printing press. MaM : What inspires or influences you nowadays? TM : I take inspiration from anything: conversations, words, podcasts, songs—anything I can listen to and go, ‘That’s cool.’ Credit: Gary Governale If it’s cool and I want to explore it, I’ll make a note of it, and when I’m at my wit’s end and I can’t think of something, I’ll pull up my notes. For the most part, I’ve never needed to wait for inspiration to hit. It’s like, I work at it. I’ve always treated it like a job. So, 8 to 5 I need to create, or work in studio, or get better at editing, or producing, or creating content. I’ve never been that stereotypical sleep-‘til-4-o’clock musician. The long and short of it is, if I don’t do something that makes me feel like I worked on trying to get better at my craft every single day, I can turn into a moody bastard. So, keeping my own shit together means I’ve either got to get up early and practice, or when those around me that I love go to bed, I’m going to stay up for a few hours and practice. Whatever I need to do to allow myself to feel like I’m alive. MaM : Plus, I think you need to stay connected to whatever that is that we’re trying to tap into, right? I think the longer you’re away from it, the harder it is to get back to it. TM : One hundred percent. I write a song every day. Might not always be a whole song, but I’ll at least do a verse and a chorus, and I’ll put it on the back burner. I could pick up your guitar now and write us a song. It would not be difficult for me. I consider that a true, true blessing, okay? I know people who will spend six, seven years on one song, you know? It’s different for everybody, but for me, it just comes. I do think, to your point, if I took it for granted and I had this attitude of, ‘I can write songs whenever,’ take a ten-year sabbatical and come back, I’m pretty convinced that that gift [would] be gone. I’ve definitely had a couple people get frustrated over the years. ‘What’s that song about?’ I’ll be like, ‘Well, what do you think it’s about?’ They’ll go, ‘Well, you wrote it.’ I’ll reply, ‘Well, did I? I mean, my name’s on the credits, but somebody else wrote that song. It just came out in the form of my hands on a guitar.’ I’m not trying to sound arty; I genuinely believe this. I remember reading interviews with certain people that were like, ‘It just comes out of me,’ and I’d always be like, ‘This motherf*cker. It just comes out of me. Bullshit.’ Whatever that is, is a hundred percent true. It just takes a little bit of refinement from my side. MaM : Do you have a favorite song of yours that just came out and has been untouched since it first came out? TM : There’s a couple, yeah. In my last band, we had this song called ‘Liar Liar,’ and I’ve got early demos of that from when I was 16, 17. It’s identical. On this new record, ironically that first single we put out, ‘ Bipolar Tendencies ,’ I got home from the studio that one day, picked up my guitar, sat on the bed, [and] fifteen minutes later I had ‘Bipolar Tendencies,’ and I was like, ‘I should put this on the record.’ I went and demoed it, did the drums a couple days later. That’s identical to how it was. Nothing changed, except I put a sample of a heartbeat in it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgBPk-zff-U Official Video for 'Bipolar Tendencies' MaM : You recorded and engineered this new album yourself, right? TM : I was never the guy who was like, ‘I’m gonna produce my own record, I’ll engineer it.’ Listen, I do think there are strengths in letting other people do stuff, like the Deep Sleep Atlantic record--my buddy Taylor Tatsch , he mixed that record. He did a superb job as far as I’m concerned. You can get too close to the stuff. Where my thought process behind it all changed was, I was in a very well-known studio, and I was just there playing on this person’s record. It wasn’t my record, but I’d known the producer. This particular artist, they couldn’t get their thing right. They were in the live room and I’m in the control room with this producer, and I don’t know if he knew that I was in the control room, or if he just didn’t care, but a comment was made, something along the lines of, ‘Ah, fer f*ck’s sake, just get it right already! It’s a shit song as it is.’ The artist never heard that, but I heard [it]. It suddenly got me thinking, ‘Wait, I’ve been in hundreds of studios by now. I wonder if this is how they feel when I’m paying to have my music recorded?’ That was the changing moment. After that I was like, ‘Nope, I’ll do it myself.’ … If you put some true care into it, people can tell, man. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, the new band, Deep Sleep Atlantic, tell us how that came about and where do you see it going from here? TM : I’d been in bands forever. I decided I was moving to America—I was done with bands. A friend of mine introduced me to a mutual friend, who is fairly visible in the music industry, who says to me, ‘We’d love to have you on our books.’ I’m thinking, ‘Me, on his books? Why now? I leave in less than a week.’ So, I said, ‘No, thanks, man. If you take me as a writer, but as far as bands go, I think I’m a little burnt out.’ I’d been gigging more than 20 years at that point, closer to 25. Bands are hard, you know? You’re dealing with all these different personalities and not always in a nice, positive way, you know? So, I come over here and I’m working at Esplanade [Studio], and every day I’m seeing really great artists coming in to do their thing. I’m sitting at home after a few of these sessions and I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, that was great, but I’ve got songs that I think are better than that, or different.’ Not in an egotistical way, just in a comparable way. So, I start writing songs. Next thing you know, I’m creating logos, writing down band names, and I’ve got about 43, 44 songs. I’m still talking to this guy who wants to manage me, and eventually he says to me, ‘You will come out as an artist, and I’ll focus on pushing you as a writer. That’s the only way we’re doing it.’ So, I said, ‘Okay.’ So that’s what led to Deep Sleep Atlantic being created, but by this point, I’m almost finishing the record and I don’t have a band. I’m still not sure if I want to have a band. Then I meet Daniel at Esplanade Studio. He and I hit it off. So, I tell him that I’ve got all these songs and I don’t know what I’m gonna do with them. I sent him, like, three songs. He comes back and says, ‘Dude, I loved the songs. We should jam sometime.’ And that was it: He and I started the band. It was as easy as that. Where we see it going, who knows? I mean, you never know where these things could go. As an actual band, we’ve only been officially out there now since the 31st of March, and it’s exceeded all my expectations thus far. I’ve been in some very good bands; I’m extremely blessed to say that. We seem to be getting a lot of feedback and a lot of love and a lot of positive response. So, where do we see it going? We’ve got some plans. I’m not going to be juvenile enough to talk about them because if they don’t transpire, then you get egg on your face. MaM : How did you come up with the name? TM : It wasn’t taken. (laughter) I hate to use the word ‘woke’ in a wrong manner, but the play on it would be just being insightful and awakened to your surroundings. Chad from the Musical Lab podcast … told me that he thought it was that we had traveled across the Atlantic. Now listen, I can’t take credit for that. I hadn’t even thought of that, but it’s a fairly cool concept. Daniel and I have both lived in several places at this point and we travelled from those places across the Atlantic to get here. Now that didn’t inform or influence the band name but, you know, America is one of the biggest countries to exist, and there’s so much going on here at the moment. Some people are very sensitive to it, and some people aren’t. So, for me, I think the name is kind of just a play on … we’re at this point where there doesn’t seem to be middle ground. You’re either one of these really insightful and have-to-preach-about-it kind of people, or you’re one of those other, ‘Naw, it’s not even a real thing’ when it is. So, I don’t know. I just think it’s much like a song. You take from it what you will. For me, it’s an important name because of certain situations around it, but that would be how I describe it. We went through hundreds of names. Originally, we wanted to go with something else. We even did a couple tester gigs under a different name, only to be at a gig and this bass player I know came to me and said, ‘I tried to check you out before the gig. You know, there’s a rapper out there using that name. So, I went and checked. We are big do-stuff-behind-the-scenes kind of guys, and we had done all this work. We were about to launch, we registered all the socials, we registered the website, we did all the things that you do, right? We put up one little post and about three weeks afterwards, this rapper puts out a song and emerges under the same name. Three weeks after our post. Now, I’m not saying he took the name, but that name was so unique, that I think it would be very hard for someone else to think of that exact thing. Humans are more similar than we admit, so I’m not saying it’s not possible, but when that was brought to my attention, I was like, ‘Okay, pull everything back. We’re not launching. Shut all of that stuff down and let’s regroup. That’s what eventually led to us taking the name Deep Sleep Atlantic. MaM : Talking about live shows, you have a few under your belt now with Deep Sleep Atlantic. How have those gone? TM : Fantastic. MaM : So, Daniel is on drums and vocals, you’re on guitar and vocals, now, to fill in the other spaces … TM : I split my signal between a guitar and a bass cab, so that fills a lot, and we play with tracks. We’ve got a Pro Tools rig, and that fills the little keyboard-y parts that we’ve got on the record and a couple little nuances. We play with in-ears, we play to click. We do all our own sound, so basically when we get to a venue, they give us what they want to mic, we then feed them our tracks so it’s in the mixing desk, then they feed the signal back to us and we have control over all the levels. It definitely takes a bit of that spontaneity away because we are locked into playing to our tracks. Every now and then, some inspiration hits and you want to go jam it over here, [but] you can’t do that. It takes some serious discipline to do what we’re doing, but it’s also not so bad because I have always been a fan of bands that sound like [they do on] the record. MaM : So, let’s talk about the album Prelude . Where did you record that album? How long did it take, and are there any stories from the recording sessions? TM : [We] recorded that album in my house, except for the guitar solo in ‘ Bones ’—that’s my buddy Zack [Loy] from the band Live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJPeOMB7tEU Official Video for 'Bones' There’s a saxophone solo in ‘ Blue ’—that’s Dave; he plays in the Dave Mouton Experience . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wvpZFEpwiI Official Video for 'Blue' And then there is a cello part in ‘ Mess We’re In ’ that I didn’t play. Everything else, I did in my house. I was doing it in between gigs, and sessions, so I did it sporadically. A story regarding it would be, it was shotgun house. I’ve since moved—the neighbor who basically convinced me to move was extremely, uh, [long pause] I think if she could have, she would have done everything she could to prevent that record from being made. It started getting to a point where I couldn’t even cough without banging coming from the other side of the wall. It started to become a bit of a joke, but not in a good way. It was in a—and I don’t mean for this to sound condescending—but it was in a ‘I think this person needs some help’ kind of way. MaM : Well, after months of hearing drums through the wall! TM : Well, ironically, I had the drums done before they even moved in! Okay, guitars—I’m a bit of a stickler for the guitar. You may have to do a part 500 times before you find the tone that you like. So, I do understand that from a neighborly point of view, especially if you are at home and you hear the same riff all day. I understand that can be frustrating. It got to the point where my wife and I would turn the television on and [within] two or three minutes, the pounding on the wall would start. Then we started to hear violin. Not properly played violin, more like the screeching sound from Psycho . After that, these notes started. You’d come to the house and there’d be a note on the door about something, or there’d be a note in the backyard about something, or there would be a note under your door, or in your post box. I tried to meet in the middle. I made a schedule, and I said, ‘Look, I’m not going to make noise every day. I definitely won’t make noise after 7 p.m. I get that you want to relax and stuff, but you’re at home all day.’ At this point, I’m only home maybe two days a week because I’m working at the studio. It was really reasonable; it wasn’t, like, every day. She said, ‘Oh, no, I need those times for my clients.’ I said to her, ‘There’s nothing more I can do. I’ve stopped the noise, we don’t turn the television on, and we don’t even have guests at the house because we don’t want to upset you.’ MaM : You have cough drops ready. TM : Exactly! So, it got to a point where we were like, ‘Let’s just move.’ That did hinder the album process. It was an album that could have taken me, let’s say, a month. Let’s say a week for drums, a week for bass, maybe a week for guitar, and a week for vocals. I could have been done. The drums and the bass were done before she got there. She just wasn’t willing to meet me in the middle. So that was both a funny and frustrating aspect of the album. MaM : Do you think any of that influenced any of the vibe on the music you were recording? TM : No, no. I mean, definitely some of the frustration while playing guitar came through. There were definitely moments where I was like, ‘Okay, you’re gonna make this hard for me? I’ll turn it up.’ Credit: Gary Governale MaM : How do you balance the art versus the business? You’re obviously talented creatively, but you also have a lot of knowledge and experience in the business side. How do you work in both without going crazy? TM : I think it’s much harder than anyone gives it credit for. I think if you start thinking about the business stuff too much, it will affect the art. You don’t want that to happen. So, I, personally, try not to think about that when I’m making music. I try and look at them completely separate. It really doesn’t make me sound rock n’ roll at all, but I will have lists … of stuff that I need to do to take care of business and I will dictate certain hours of the day to do that, whereas when I’m creating, or recording, or making art or anything, I worry about none of that. I think you NEED to think about the business though, unless you have someone who can take care of that for you. People are listening to music with their eyes now, so you could have the greatest record out there and it might be discovered (the good ones always are discovered eventually), but if you’re not taking care of something that [allows] people [to] somehow find you, I think you’re doing yourself an injustice. Plus, it’s in your best interest to learn that side of it now because no one’s going to care about your music, or your art, or you as much as you. I’m happy to do the work, I’m not lazy. I’m many things, but I’m not lazy. Follow Travis and Deep Sleep Atlantic on all social media and streaming platforms, available at www.DeepSleepAtlantic.com . To see their tour schedule, click here. *cover photo credit: 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

Leave your inhibitions at the door < Back Asheville Keeps it Weird with the Return of ABSFest Tim W. Jackson May 8, 2023 Share Leave your inhibitions at the door To all of our alternatively weird and perfect friends here in the South, this one’s for you! Long an annual staple of the Asheville, North Carolina scene, the Asheville Burlesque and Sideshow Festival , also known as ABSFest, makes its glorious return after a brief hiatus. Festivalgoers are in for a wild ride over Memorial Day weekend as ABSFest rolls into town for its 14th year. Coming up May 25-27, 2023, ABSFest events will be hosted by Asheville Raven & Crone, The Grey Eagle, and The Orange Peel, and promises to bring together provocative performers from far and wide. It's a celebration of the strange, the unconventional, and the sometimes bizarre—but all in a super fun way with lots of love in the room. The event is the creation of Madame Onça, aka Lauren O'Leary, an entertainer, touring performer, author, artist, and—obviously—an event producer. credit: TheDancersEye.com ABSFest was a natural outgrowth of her life at the time as co-founder and director of the Future of Tradition Center for Folkloric Arts from 1999 to 2006 in Asheville. It was home to the fire, circus, and world dance arts, all of which were growing in popularity. Now living in Virginia, Onça is happy to bring the festival back after a COVID hiatus. “I was quite surprised to be—as everyone was—thrown from the organizational horse,” Onça says about having to cancel this and other festivals during the initial pandemic shutdown. “We haven't had it until this year because, from the point of view of long-term planning, there's a lot of people in the village artistically and administratively that make the festival happen.” Onça says it seemed they were maybe in stasis forever, just waiting for the right time to return. “This year, once everybody had made their decisions about how they were gonna handle their relationship with vaccinations and so forth and the venues went back to a more standard situation, we felt like we could plan. So, we're on.” To ease back into this first year, though, Onça says she’s made it an invitation-only festival rather than by application. “Usually we invite a few headliners, and then we invite artists to apply from all over the country. But because we knew we were coming out of a period of absolute uncertainty and into a period of still wild uncertainty, I was like, ‘Why don't we just work with folks who have done the festival with us before?’” Nonetheless, Onça and her crew have brought a world-class collection of performers for this first year back. Just a small selection includes “The Cocoa Barbie” May Hemmer (featured on cover image), “Queen of Subtle-Tease” Talloolah Love, death-defying jester Paolo Garbanzo, comedian and “professional pickpocket” Les S. Moore, belly dancer Sarah Joy, sideshow performer Opal Lechmanski, and Vaudevillian Carmel Clavin. death-defying jester Paolo Garbanzo (credit: Dave Parrish) sideshow performer Opal Lechmanski (credit: Isaac Harrell) Musical guests are friends of Mixed Alternative Magazine , Charming Disaster ! credit: Charming Disaster Charming Disaster will perform Friday, May 26 for the Speakeasy Séance, which ExploreAsheville.com says is, “like an acoustic rock opera with ghosts and pasties!” You certainly won't want to miss their performance ... or any of the performances, really. The event is all about pushing boundaries and celebrating the wonderfully weird, with workshops such as songwriting, burlesque, and making events welcome to marginalized performers who are also part of the festival. It also includes an array of vendors and a raffle, as the festival’s charity partner this year is Asheville’s feral kitten rescue, Sister Kitten. ABSfest is all about breaking down barriers and having a good time, but perhaps the most exciting thing about the event is the sense of community that it creates. This is a festival for people who might not fit into the mainstream. It's a place where you can be yourself, no matter how strange or unconventional that might be. “I’m so looking forward to being together with these wonderful people again, “Onça says, “and just feeling the energy and vibrancy of this event again.” So, if you're ready to explore the edgier side of life, if you're ready to push your boundaries and embrace the alternative, then ABSFest 2023 is the event for you. Just be prepared to leave your inhibitions at the door. Here’s a look at the array of events: World Spirit Tarot with Madame Onça Thursday, May 25, 2023 Asheville Raven & Crone 640 Merrimon Ave., Suite 207, Asheville NC 5 p.m. courtesy Madame Onça ABSFest Speakeasy Burlesque & Live Music Show Friday, May 26, 2023 Grey Eagle Music Hall 185 Clingman Ave, Asheville, NC 7 p.m. - VIP Doors Open 7:30 pm - General Admission Doors Open 8 p.m. - Burlesque Murder Mystery with all live music played by New York City’s goth folk duo Charming Disaster ABSFest Workshops Saturday, May 27, through the day The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC ABSFest offers burlesque, circus, and business workshops. Train with artists from around the country in the ABSFest Sexy Seminary in stagecraft, circus arts, fire performance, burlesque, and more. Open to all levels. ABSFest’s Big Night – Saturday Spectacular Saturday, May 27, 2023 The Orange Peel 101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 7 p.m. - VIP Doors Open 7:30 p.m. - General Admission Doors Open 8 p.m. - Saturday Spectacular, hosted by Washington, DC’s sorceress of stand-up, Violet Gray For further information, visit www.ABSFest.com . Want your festival to be featured in this magazine? Email the editor at the_keeleybrooks@mixedaltmag.com . Tim Jackson is a seasoned journalist and author with a penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister. He lives in Tuscumbia, Ala., with his artist wife and their remote-chewing dog, Maple. 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 . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! < Back The Alabama Heathens: Southern Grit Meets Raw Rock Energy Bud Gambrell Apr 18, 2025 Share The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! Could there ever be a better way to begin an interview than with tacos ? That’s right, tacos . The only thing that could have made it any better would have been beer , but none of us were day-drinking, so the beer will have to wait another time. When I contacted Jude Roberts of The Alabama Heathens and asked about an interview, he picked the location for lunch. He chose a local restaurant, and away I went for a talk with Jude and The Heathens' lead singer, Dylan Johnson. It’s unusual for an interview to begin with a video, but in this instance, I feel it may be necessary to tempt your musical taste buds. Take my word for it. Turn this up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrO3XsywlzU The Alabama Heathens - Here for the Whiskey I have known these two young men for a couple of years now. If memory serves me correctly, I met them both while shooting a video for Jude’s father, Mike Roberts . That was the second music video for 5ive O’clock Charlie , Mike’s band , for which I had shot a drone video. Jude brings up a funny story about the shoot later in the interview. Stay tuned. Mike Roberts is a musical staple in the Huntsville music scene. Our story goes back several years. I met Mike several times and saw him play with 5ive O’clock Charlie and Travis McCready . Around 2021 , our friendship just seemed to bloom. Mike has become one of my favorite people to run into, either by accident or a planned lunch. He is genuinely a good soul! That day was also the first time I saw the now Alabama Heathens play. At that time, they were playing together under a different band name. I was working, so I didn’t get to listen closely, but from what I can remember, they were very good. If you know Mike , you know he always wears a smile and has wonderful things to say. Much is the same way with Jude . The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in this case. Dylan and I have gotten to know each other better, too. He is also always a pleasure to work with and become friends with. Unfortunately, I do not know his father. They say your children are a reflection of you. If that is the case, his father is a wonderful man. Fast-forward to July 2024 . The Alabama Heathens performed in The Alabama Smoke Show , if you remember the article I wrote for that event. Seeing those guys play on that big stage at such a young age was impressive. I have seen them since, and they keep getting better. During our lunch, we spoke at length about many things. I couldn’t tell you much about our discussion, as I was not recording that part. The banter and laughs did not stop. The parts I recorded are in the sections you are about to read. My first question was for Dylan . Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Dylan, tell me, who are the Alabama Heathens? Dylan Johnson : The Alabama Heathens are a southern rock band out of North Alabama. On lead guitar , we have Jude Roberts . On drums , we have Ethan Chandler . On bass guitar, we have William O’Rear . And I'm on lead vocals. We pride ourselves on authenticity. I think we bring an old soul to our original music. OTC : What's the story behind the band's name? Dylan : It comes from a song I wrote two years ago called ' Alabama Heathens .' I wrote it about my buddies I grew up with. I felt like we were, you know, hometown heathens, I guess you could say. I can't really remember who mentioned it as the band name. I was initially against it, but maybe Jonathan said we should be The Alabama Heathens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbjEJIiVTTw The Alabama Heathens EP OTC : What got you into music? Jude Roberts : Well, my first instrument was the tuba in 6th grade, and by the end of 6th grade, I got braces. I didn't want to play because, you know, braces suck when you're trying to play a brass instrument. Michael Cline said, ‘Hey, you should play bass instead.’ So, Michael Cline got me playing bass. I've been into music since before I came out of the womb. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography I would like to give you a side note: Michael Cline plays bass for Mike Roberts’ band, Five O’clock Charlie . OTC : Why is that? Jude : My dad was reading a music theory book in the lobby while I was being born. I remember crawling on stage at an early age, maybe two or three, with headphones on while everybody played loud guitar amps and drums. And I've always just been around music, you know. I took my dad's CDs to go show the kindergarten class or the pre-school class. But I didn't really get into playing music on my own until Michael Cline got me playing bass, and until I heard The Clash's London Calling album. The entire album is golden! Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Dylan. what got you into music? Dylan : Well, I think listening to records at such a young age. And the earliest I can remember, I feel like it was the radio, too. Driving to school and riding in the car seat are the earliest I can remember. It was Johnny Cash . I guess it was the voice that I loved the most. I think it was ' Ring of Fire .' That was my favorite song. Kiss was another band that I loved as a kid. I would bang my head on my car seat. OTC : Were these your parents' records? Dylan : Well, some of these came from the radio, you know, from 95.1 The Rocket . My dad's records got me into wanting to play music. I just grew up listening to Bob Dylan , and Steely Dan was always on the record player. So much so that I would turn the record player off because I kept hearing the same song repeatedly. And then what got me into wanting to play was when I was 12, my dad took me to my first concert, ZZ Top . The production, the lights, the sound, the interaction of the crowd, you know, watching people cheer and laugh and cry, and seeing what music could do to somebody. It just hit me right away! I feel like I was born into it. Bud Gambrell with Jude and Dylan from The Alabama Heathens OTC : What are your main influences? Dylan : Ohh, man. I mean, musically, I would have to say one of my biggest influences would probably be Neil Young . As a songwriter, he has his sound; nobody else sounds like him or writes like Neil Young . Bob Dylan is the same way. Maybe it's because I was named after Bob. It's the reason that I'm so into him. But I just grew up on that music. OTC : Jude, what are your influences? Jude : My most significant influence is my father . You can't escape the DNA. That DNA influence , I guess, is a weird way to put it. I've always heard him playing, and he was my first reference for an electric guitar player and what an electric guitar player should be. That was my first taste of hearing music, and I love Jimi Hendrix . I'm a big Duane Allman and Derek Trucks fan on slide guitar . I'm a big Rory Gallagher fan, too. I like Paul Kossoff from Free and Mick Ralphs from Bad Company . For the longest time, I said my three significant influences were Mike Roberts , Jimi Hendrix , and B.B. King . I've added Rory Gallagher and Duane Allman to that list, making it five . Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Now you guys just did some dates in Florida. Tell me how that went for you. Jude : Oh, that was great! That was fun! We played Docie’s Dock in Fort Walton Beach , which you can't see, but I'm wearing a hat they so kindly allowed me to keep. It was a warm reception for our first time playing in Florida . The crowd had their attention on us, which you can't say for some venues. We just had a great old time! OTC : Dylan, tell me some things the Alabama Heathens have coming up for this spring and summer. Dylan : Tomorrow, we'll open up for a band called The Skeeters in Fort Payne, Alabama. That should be a massive gig for us! We're looking forward to that! I know the Alabama Smoke Show is coming back on July 19, 2025 . I'm not exactly sure who is all on the bill for that, but I'm looking forward to playing Mars Music Hall again. That's a staple of Huntsville , so I'm very grateful to be a part of that. Hopefully, we will visit Minnesota to play some shows around August or September . We're getting that worked up for about five days or something. We will try to sneak our way from Tennessee to Kentucky and Minnesota . I think it would be cool if we could get that done. We want to try to get some real touring going on. I mean, that's our main thing. Plus, we've been in the studio. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Speaking of that, I’ve seen pictures of you in the studio. Can we expect some more new material coming soon? Dylan : Absolutely! Hopefully, by mid-summer, our song ' Throw the Dog a Bone ' should be coming out. We've already been in the studio and cut it. We're excited to put some new music out! I think we're just going to do singles for the next couple of months and see where that takes us, and hopefully be prepared, you know, by next year to do a full 12-song album . OTC : Speaking of singles, the latest one is ' Here for the Whiskey ' . I've heard it, and I’ve watched the video multiple times. I love this song! Jude, tell me a little about how the initial idea and the song's recording came about. Jude : Well. ' Here for the Whiskey ' was written by Dylan Johnson, James LeBlanc, and Jonathan Moody. They had a recording sent to me when I first joined the band with all of the original songs to learn. So, you know, I joined the band not long ago compared to these guys. And I just figured out how to add slide guitar to the songs. Playing in a band with two guitar players is pretty hard to figure out where you're supposed to fit. We had a pretty good idea of what we were doing, but Jeremy Stephens at Clearwave Studios helped us orchestrate and arrange it to be more professional. OTC : I think the slide stands out on a great song. You mentioned Duane Allman . Where do you get your slight guitar influence from? Jude : Again, my dad was my first slide influence. The first riff I ever learned was ' Whole Lotta Love ' by Led Zeppelin , and he showed me how to do the slide part. I've been playing the slide technically since I first started playing guitar, but I didn't get into it until I heard Derek Trucks playing slide . Derek Trucks is probably one of the greatest guitar players ever to walk the earth. So that led me back to Duane Allman . I've been listening to Elmore James . Warren Haynes is a huge slide influence on me. Warren plays slide in the standard tuning instead of an open tuning like Duane or Derek. We play many songs, and it's easier for me to go ahead and play in standard tuning. I don't want to have to switch guitars if I want to play slide. I just put my slide on my finger. George Harrison is also a considerable influence. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : Have you gotten any feedback from the new song yet? Dylan : We posted it on Facebook , and I've received a lot of great feedback from friends, family, and fans. We also put out a music video for it, which was super cool! It has almost 1000 views. I'm not sure what the streaming aspect of it looks like, but I think it's done pretty well so far. OTC : We have worked together a couple of times. We’ve done photo sessions together, but I think the first time I met you, Dylan, and Jude may have been the first time I met Jude. We were in the field on a rainy day, shooting ' Fast Country ' for your dad's band, 5ive O’clock Charlie . Do you remember that? Jude : Oh, I remember that like it was yesterday. OTC : I think y'all were still called the Debriefers at the time. Now, that's an interesting name. Tell me about the name Debriefers. Jude : Before I do that, I will say the biggest thing I remember about that day is Bud Gambrell dropping a smoke bomb on us! I looked back at my drummer, who's also named Dylan. Dylan Hurley. He is a wonderful human being! Seeing the expression of terror on his face as he got engulfed by smoke , and then slowly but surely, the entire band got engulfed. I watched the video. We all just looked panicked and confused! Then we're just engulfed by smoke, and you see Bud leaving the crime scene. (laughter) I add a little smoke to everything he remembers about that day. Well, it was supposed to be a “little”. The smoke would make the video more visually appealing, right? Somebody back me up here. Mike? Duane? Dylan? Anyone? If one smoke bomb was good, two smoke bombs would be great. Anyway, it was funny, a little? Here is the video . You be the judge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvcDRB_2MF4 Fast Country by 5ive O'Clock Charlie Jude continues to explain the name of his previous band. Jude : The Debriefers is a spin-off of the Panty Droppers , a beautiful name. Dylan Johnson came up with that. We tried for a good month or two to figure out a name. Band names are hard. Man, it's just like a song title. You must find the right one but can't use any old name. So, I decided to do some Grissom academics and make it Debriefers . So, we were able to be school-friendly. OTC : Dylan, surely, there's something else you remember better about that day than the smoke. Dylan : Well, there was a damn downpour. I remember that. Yeah, I remember it rained like crazy! We were on a trailer. We were on a gooseneck trailer set up with a great sound system. And we had a crowd we were playing for. We played ' Whipping Post .' It was a bit rocky, but we had a good time that day. I remember it coming down in a downpour out of nowhere and packing up all that PA equipment in the rain. We were in Duane Walker's cow pasture. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Duane Walker also plays in 5ive O’clock Charlie. I met Duane at a Blackberry Smoke concert before I knew he was joining 5ive O’clock Charlie. We started a conversation and became friends, as if we’d known each other for a long time. OTC : What are your long-term goals for the band, and what are you most excited about in the future of your music? Dylan : To go on tour. I mean to live that tour life and play music. We could have shows like we do back home, but out on the road. The main goal is to play our music to people who want to listen to original music. Make them dance. You know, make them cry. It's a compliment to make somebody cry with your song because it means they're living it. You know what I mean? I'm not afraid to listen to music and cry. Because, I mean, that shows its authenticity. You know what I mean? For the long term, man, I'd love to get an album, a couple of albums under our belt, and eventually be headlining shows instead of opening them. Our brand can sell, make people happy, and have a promising career. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : The headline shows are going to come. Trust me, it's coming. How do you define success as a musician? Jude : Playing something new every night that makes you happy. And if it gets you off, then great. If it gets the crowd off, too, then that’s what you're looking for. Being a musician, you're never going to be satisfied because you're always going to be working to be better or working to do something differently. So, having shows and getting paid for what you're doing is the goal: I'm happy if I can pay my bills by playing my guitar. But if I can be creative and expand my knowledge as a human being and musician, that's what you want. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : What's the most important thing you want people to take away from your music? Jude : I want people to know who I am and what I've been through by listening to my notes, lyrics, and everything I put forward. I want people to feel like I did when I heard Jimi Hendrix or Derek Trucks for the first time. I want people to have an excitement for life that drugs can't give you. The enthusiasm that only music and God can give you. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Dylan : I want somebody to be able to listen to our music and relate to the hurt, the heartache, and even the good times of it. You know what I mean? I would hope that when people hear us, they don't think that we're just some other, you know, local band that's trying to do it. I mean, this is our full-time gig. This is full-time for me, and it is for Jude. I know that we put our heart and soul into this: traveling, playing, and riding. The writing is about things that we know. We're not trying to be somebody we're not, which happens often in this business because you get offered all this stuff, and then you buy into it. But I don't think we've ever settled for mediocrity either. I don't ever want to do that. And I want people to know that and keep on listening. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : If you could perform anywhere worldwide, where would it be and why? Dylan : Veterans Park in Priceville, AL. (laughs) Dylan : My first thought was the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville . The history there! I got to see Jason Isbell for my first show ever at the Ryman. He's one of my all-time favorites. Who wouldn't want to play at Red Rocks ? I guess it would be the Ryman , just because it's the Mother Church! Everyone sits on church pews , and all eyes are on you. Jude : Well, it would not be Veterans Park in Priceville, Alabama. (laughter) Jude : I also want to say the Ryman because my father has played there , and I feel I owe it to myself to have two Roberts play at the Ryman instead of just one. That would be cool! I would also love to play at one of the Fillmores or the Apollo Theater in New York . I’m a big fan of old R&B , blues , and soul music . Man, the Apollo is where all those guys were at. B.B. King , James Brown , and you know all those greats. So, that'd be cool to play that room. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC : What's a fun fact about yourself that your fans may not know? Jude : Musically or not, musically? OTC : It can be either—just a fun fact about yourself. Jude : I've pissed on an Irish castle, and I found out later that it's a felony. I don't know if you can publish that, but you can. I'll give you permission. (laughter) OTC : As long as we don't say which one, they can't press charges, right? Jude : I reckon. I'll tell you which one. OTC : Let’s not invite the law into this. Jude : I was walking around, and I, you know, I had to go. It's really beautiful in Ireland ! It's beautiful with a lot of places to go to take a piss. (laughter) Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography Dylan : I used to be on a pool team. I love to shoot pool. I love playing golf when I'm not working. I have several hobbies. I love the gym. I try to eat clean. I don't eat the best, but I like physically caring for myself. I do kickboxing and boxing and run and all that. I enjoy that kind of stuff. I don't know if that's a fun fact. But that's what I'm doing when I’m not playing music. I'm either shooting pool, playing golf, or boxing. Credit: Bud Gambrell Photography OTC: One last question. If you had the chance to meet your favorite rock star and ask him or her one question. Who would you want to meet, and what would you ask them? Jude : I have two answers. Do I only have to give one? OTC : Two will be fine. Jude : My first one is Jimi Hendrix . He was always creating and on the forefront of just new shit and pushing everything to its boundary and to its edge and making new boundaries. And how did you do that? That'd be my question. How did you consistently break boundaries? OTC : Ok, number two? Jude : The second would be Gregg Allman . I would like to ask Gregg Allman what microphone he used on Eat a Peach . I've been wondering about that for the past month. Dylan : I mean, if I can meet anybody and ask anything, it would probably be Neil Young , honestly. How did you produce an album like Harvest ? You know, where does that sound come from? Who writes that? It's kind of the same with Bob Dylan . How does somebody write that kind of music and continue to write that kind of music in their late 70s? I would ask how they have made it this far. Being on the road and not losing their minds. I'm sure they're crazy, but you must be crazy to do what we're doing anyway. OTC : Do you have anything else to add for your fans, listeners, and new potential fans? Dylan : Man, come out and see us! Come talk to us. Buy a T-shirt and ask for a sticker. We'll give you a sticker. Follow us and like our music. We love y'all! We want to meet y'all and create a family, you know, that wants to support us. And we want to hear from you. You know what I mean? Just let us know if there's a certain song or anything you want to hear. Jude : Rock 'n' Roll isn’t dead, so come out and fucking rock with us! You heard Jude! Get up and get to a show to rock with this band. By all means, catch them between sets or after the show and introduce yourself. You will not meet a more sociable bunch of young men. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! *All photos by Bud Gambrell Photography www.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. Where to find Bud: Email: the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com Website: https://bgambrellphotography.com Amazon: https://a.co/d/1CLA9Tz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book: Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find the Alabama Heathens: YouTube: Alabama Heathens - Topic - YouTube Facebook: Facebook Instagram: The Alabama Heathens (@thealabamaheathens) • Instagram photos and videos Where to find Dylan Johnson: Facebook: Facebook X: Dylan Johnson (@D_JohnsonMusic) / X Where to find Jude Roberts: Facebook: Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com D o you have something that Bud should check out? Email him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The music of Jean Claude Seagal captures the complexities of life and relationships with melodic hooks and gritty rock sensibilities. < Back Jean Claude Seagal: A New Journey through Alternative Rock Nicole Brice Mar 22, 2024 Share The music of Jean Claude Seagal captures the complexities of life and relationships with melodic hooks and gritty rock sensibilities. Growing up as a teenager in the 90s, I was obsessed with DIY bands that did not conform to a certain look to get their messages across. I admired the authenticity of bands such as Sonic Youth, Buffalo Tom, The Breeders, and Archers of Loaf because of the raw power found in their music. Using scaled-down production techniques mixed with feedback and fuzz, these bands set a precedent for many who are trying to emulate their style now. They say that time repeats, and it is repeating now. Enter one of the newest bands in Baton Rouge, Jean Claude Seagal. With potent lyrics combined with a smooth delivery and just the right amount of grunge fuzz, these guys are emerging as a continuation of the alt/grunge sound of the 90s, and their music is packaged as such. Possessing personality and sheer talent, the band comprises Justin Tatman on vocals and guitar, Nick Maggio on bass, and Robby Gray on drums. Credit: Gary Governale Formed in 2024, Jean Claude Seagal’s first release is titled “State Champs,” and with this EP, the band has created a sound combining elements of indie rock, punk, and grunge, creating a style that is both familiar and fresh. With honest, confessional songwriting that speaks to our experiences and emotions, Jean Claude Seagal has created timeless music that will connect with listeners, reminding us of the power of honest, heartfelt songwriting. Click the picture to listen Mixed Alternative Magazine had the opportunity to chat with the guys of Jean Claude Seagal recently about the band's origins, plans, and much more, so take a moment to learn a little more about one of the newest bands on the scene in Baton Rouge. MaM : Thanks for meeting with me today. Let’s dive right in. How did the band name come about? Justin : I was in a band a long time ago, and we were trying to think of a name for it, and the drummer at the time suggested Jean Claude Seagal, and I thought it was the greatest thing I had ever heard, but we never used it, so years later, here we are. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, how do you all know each other? Nick : Well, I met Robby over a decade ago off Craig’s List. We were starting a couple of projects here and there, and I needed a guitar player, but see, we were all in the band, Minus One. This was over a decade ago. Minus One was another alternative rock band, and we were around for a bit until COVID hit, and that just killed it. We just decided recently to form a new band, and here we are. Robby : I’ve known Justin since elementary school. He and I have been in and out of bands since we were kids, and Nick and I have another project we’ve been working on that we can’t find members for currently. It’s a progressive rock project. Not the stuff you generally hear around Baton Rouge. I picked up playing drums when I was about 11 years old, with no lessons. I started listening to Metallica as a kid and then begged my dad for a drum set. I love playing drums, and if you listen to my playing, you’ll hear a little Metallica influence—the triplets I do with my feet and stuff like that. It’s in there. I’ve always thought that the drums help bring energy to the songs. Justin : His style brings more potency to the music with a little punk influence. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What got you each into music originally? Justin : I saw Nirvana’s “Live and Loud,” and when they were playing “Endless Nameless” and just messing around and throwing stuff everywhere, I was like, “I can do that!”. That’s really where it started for me. Robby : For me, it was when I sat down behind my first drum kit. My crappy drum kit. (laughter) MaM : Well, you gotta start somewhere! Justin : My mom had this little acoustic guitar, and I asked her if I could start playing it, but she didn’t think I would stick with it. I started tuning it and messing with it, though, and she would get mad at me. Nick : For me, I loved music from the get-go. My dad would throw on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album in the car, and he had a good bit of Whitney Houston, too, but for me, the way loud music resonates with you. Your whole body shakes with the music, and I always wanted to be a part of that. When I was 14 years old, my mom bought me my first guitar, and it was a no-name replica type of guitar. Some knock-off 6-string thing. I’m mainly a guitar player, though. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : So bass is new for you? Nick : Well, yes and no. I can pick up a bass in a pinch. I listen to a lot of music that has intricate arrangements, and I like to think of a song in its totality—just everything in it. Everything has its part to play in making a cohesive sound. One band, one sound. MaM : So, who are your biggest influences as far as the sound of this band? Justin : I like Hum and Dinosaur Jr. Sometimes it’s upbeat, and sometimes it has that noisiness to it. They don’t try to make their music all posh or anything. Nick : As far as influences for my bass playing, I like a lot of heavier bands. Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me is one of the best bass players on the planet, in my opinion, but he has a way of carrying the low end that is different from just sitting and playing your scales up and down, and I try to emulate that with what we do, but in a more simplified way because I’m not nearly as shreddy as that guy. Robby : As for me, I have a hard time finding a band to compare us to. I would say that I take my influence from Rise Against mixed with a little Metallica. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Where was the EP recorded? Nick : My house MaM : So, what was the creative process like for writing and recording it? How did you get the songs that you decided to put on the EP? Nick : We had those songs ready already, so we spent a week tracking drums, half a week tracking the rest of it, and another week mixing it down. We got it done quickly. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What is your mission statement as a band? What do you hope to accomplish in the future? Justin : We want to stay creative, and we hope that people like what we are putting out. Nick : At the end of the day, we just want to rock people’s faces off and have a blast doing it. As Jean Claude Seagal continues to forge ahead in getting their music out to the masses, they no doubt will find those who resonate with their unpolished and bona fide sound. To hear their new EP, “State Champs,” just hit one of the links below, and then be sure to follow them on social media to stay up-to-date on all upcoming shows. Facebook : Facebook Instagram : Jean Claude Seagal (@jeanclaude_seagal) • Instagram photos and videos Apple Music : Jean Claude Segal, Apple Music Spotify : State Champs EP by Jean Claude Seagal | Spotify *Cover photo 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

Bringin' back the classic rock vibe < Back Born to Rock: Adam and the Metal Hawks Keeley Brooks Apr 24, 2023 Share Bringin' back the classic rock vibe By now, just about everyone on the planet has seen their video creatively (and hilariously) reviving the Guns ‘n Roses classic rock tune “Sweet Child O’ Mine”. If you haven’t, don’t sweat it—you know I’ve got you covered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4eo6LS9lto BUT, you must also watch this take, because it features new drummer Griffin McCarthy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNiAKNJOTnk This fun-loving group of irresistible talent is known as Adam and the Metal Hawks and right now, you can’t open TikTok without seeing one of their infamously funny and wholly entertaining music videos full of prowess and passion. The band shot to stardom last summer when Jack Black finally publicly acknowledged his musical doppelganger in lead singer Adam Ezegelian after the band recreated Tenacious D’s “Kickapoo”, posted it on TikTok, and called on Black to duet with them. After six attempts to get his attention, and with the help of social media followers embarking on a public pressure campaign calling on the celebrity to respond, Black did just that. “We tried to incorporate either songs that he had covered or his songs,” Ezegelian said in an interview with Sweety High , “and we worked them into different formats for our TikToks.” At the time the Hawks posted these videos, their one main goal was to get the actor and musician, who covered the track in the hit movie School of Rock , to post a video reply. So, fans and band members constantly posted on Black’s TikTok videos, urging him to respond, and on May 27, 2022, he did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzqJtpfct48 This attention, paired with their impeccable three-part harmonies and meme-worthy videos, shot the band into notoriety heaven and the rest, as they say, is history. “That was an amazing experience,” says lead singer Adam Ezegelian. “We’re all huge fans of [Jack Black] and Tenacious D, his band, and their music, so, in the beginning when we first jumped on TikTok, we kept getting comparisons to him because of my voice and facial expressions. So, we sort of leaned into it and started posting videos … a little challenge to get him to duet us, and eventually it just worked. … It was crazy. We were all in shock.” While Black has followed the Hawks on social media and liked some of their posts, he hasn’t necessarily responded verbally, but Ezegelian notes he is keeping an eye on them. “One day, hopefully we’ll do something worthy enough to get his attention and maybe get the invite out or to open for them on tour, which would be amazing. We’d love to play with them. We’re just holding on and keeping his attention and hopefully sending something out he’ll enjoy.” The guys have even gotten the attention of Styx with their mouth-wide-open version of “ Come Sail Away ”. With over three million followers on TikTok and one million on Instagram, it’s safe to say Adam and the Metal Hawks are the most famous band to emerge from social media as quickly as they have, but it’s not just because of their talent. These guys are so down to earth and genuinely hilarious on and off camera, their infectious energies and personalities suck you right in and make you feel like you’re hangin’ out with your best homies, just having a good time and kickin’ it to some bitchin’ rock tunes. All hailing from Long Island in New York, Adam and the Metal Hawks features, from left to right, original founding Metal Hawks members Johnny Barry on guitar and Ryan Daversa on bass, Adam Ezegelian on lead vocals (and I do mean lead vocals), and Griffin McCarthy on drums. Though none of them grew up together, you’d never know it given how they interact with and support one another. They’re truly a band of brothers enjoying life to the best of their ability, then sharing their experience through music and entertainment. Image taken from artist social media Prior to Adam, the band was known as Metal Hawks and consisted of Johnny and Ryan, who met at a local talent show in 2014, and the group’s original drummer, Alex Hertler, who left the band in 2022. (He is featured in the first “Sweet Child O’ Mine” video at the beginning of this article.) The three played every bar and club on Long Island and honed their craft before meeting Adam through mutual friends in 2019 and bringing him in to sing. “I was playing bass and singing at the time, so it was a little bit of a blow to my ego” laughs Daversa, who, in my opinion, bears a bit of a resemblance to 80’s rock band Warrant lead singer Jani Lane but who most commonly gets compared to Eddie Munson of Stranger Things or Michael Beck of the 1979 action-crime thriller The Warriors . “But, you know, the way Adam sings, man, I don’t want to sing anymore. That guy’s just too freakin’ good.” Once Adam took over singing duties, Ryan—heavily influenced by rock greats Rush, Van Halen, and Led Zeppelin—shied away from the role of lead singer and began focusing more on bass. Image taken from artist social media Guitarist Johnny Barry recalls always having had the vision of being in a rock band. He picked up the guitar when he was eight, and at age 10, he started his first band called Metal Hawks with two other kids, who would later be replaced by current bandmate Ryan Daversa on vocals and later, bass, and former drummer Alex Hertler. “My parents were very into music but never played any instruments. My dad loves classic rock, and his favorite band is Van Halen, which is also my favorite band,” Barry says. “Mine, too!” Ryan chimes in with a laugh. Adds Griffin, “Yeah, we’re all in fortunate situations with our families, who understand how difficult it is to do this for a living and to pursue it—my parents especially, because they’re musicians and know firsthand how difficult it is to get started. Our family circle is very supportive, so we lucked out with that. They’re all very great people.” “My dad is our number one fan, for sure,” Johnny continues, and the other guys agree. He credits Guitar Hero with helping him find his passion. “For my communion at eight or nine years old, my parents got me my first guitar, and ever since, I kept trying to start a band. I’m also into AC/DC and Greta Van Fleet.” Image taken from artist social media After Hertler left the band in 2022, drummer Griffin McCarthy was quick to audition and take over the throne. It was his addition that allowed the Hawks to pull out those beautiful three-part harmonies and achieve that awesome sound not many bands can pull off, especially since technology plays such a huge role in today’s music. “We’re trying to bring the classic rock feel back, especially to these kids on TikTok [who] may have never heard any of this music before or just heard it in a random animated movie. … We’re trying to be that voice of rock that just brings it back,” Ezegelian explains. And bringing it back they are, but they’re also putting their own spin on the sound, and that’s what makes them so unique. Each member is his own reincarnation of some great classic rock artist and collectively, they have a really hip vibe of effortlessly singing like birds while playing instruments, and that is pretty impressive. McCarthy said they all took the best of their inspirations of that era and molded it into their own style and brought it together, and it blends well. “It’s great people see it for what it is because there’s a huge gap in the market for that right now. So, it’s very cool to see this generation want to go see a full band live, [especially in this modern technological age]. It’s good for us because that’s what were here for,” laughs Griffin. Image taken from artist social media McCarthy cites his biggest influences as Rush, The Who, and Queen and says he’s been drumming since the age of three. “There was always music in my house. My parents are piano players and always played for me, then I started picking some of it up and playing a little on my own. I always had rhythm from an early age.” He eventually started showing interest in the drum set, which his mother noticed, and when he was seven, she enrolled him in drum lessons. “I got my first drum set at eight, and I haven’t stopped playing since. I always foresaw a future there. I fell in love with the drums immediately. And it’s amazing, because I’ve finally found a band who wants it as bad as I do.” McCarthy has toured with several acts prior to Adam and the Metal Hawks, including Yngwie Malmsteen and Prong, who went on the road with Overkill, and he even toured briefly with a Broadway production of “Rent”. Lead singer Adam Ezegelian says he’s been fueled by rock energy since he arrived on this planet, and his parents had a lot to do with that by raising him right and exposing him to good music. Growing up, Adam was active in plays and musical theater—even jazz band and an acapella jazz ensemble. Image courtesy of artist social media “I just love performing,” he says. “You know, making people laugh and clap along and bob their head … just getting into it.” Ezegelian’s life changed in 2015 when he auditioned for American Idol and got a ticket to Hollywood. He took his influences of Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, and AC/DC, as well as his love for rock, and filled people with happiness with his resonant, multi-dimensional voice and animated facial expressions. Adam sailed right through to the Top 16 before being sent home, then in 2019, he met the Metal Hawks and, as their website says, “they’ve had stellar rock chemistry ever since.” And they’re right: Their chemistry is so stellar, it’s palpable. That might have something to do with the fact that they were all raised so right in being constantly exposed to some of the best, most influential music on the planet. Someone needs to give these guys’ parents a giant high-five for being so cool. Way to go, parents; you guys truly do rock. Recently the guys finished recording their second album as Adam and the Metal Hawks, though their first one, a self-titled album that dropped in 2020 during Covid, features their former drummer. Their hit single from that album released Sept. 2019 and is titled “ Turn Around ”. It’s a love song encased in a hard rock shell, and that’s easily relatable to all of us. That single set the tone for who they were and, shortly thereafter, they released “ Wastin’ Time ”, then “ Backwards ”. Since, with new drummer Griffin McCarthy (who reportedly plays a mean cowbell), the Hawks have released two other singles with videos, “Hey Hey Mama” and “Love is on My Wishlist (When It’s Christmas)”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0m1MD2cUk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUxSx5cSUE “We’ve been working for over a year [on this new album]. These songs are songs we’ve taken on road and played at shows and gotten crowd feedback and changed things here and there, and we’re just very excited to show you guys what we’ve been working on. It’s gonna be great when we can release it and see what everybody thinks,” says Ezegelian. “Yeah, all the songs are diverse and unique in their own way,” adds McCarthy. “Not one song sounds like the other. You won’t feel like you’re listening to the same song twice. It’s very original.” Adam continues, “A lot of our material is coming from our personal experiences, of course, and we want to make sure everybody can take something away from each song ... so, there’s strength in having that wide array of songs. There’s something for everybody there: power ballads, acoustic ballads, heavy songs, fast songs … if you’re a rock band fan, there’s gonna be some songs that you’re gonna love. As far as concept, a lot of it has to do with our rise from nothing to [being a] viral sensation, so we’ve got some good stuff on there—inspiration from being cooped up from Covid and the culmination of the past couple years going into this album. It’ll be a large weight off our shoulders once it’s released to just spread it throughout the world ... 10 lovely tracks.” I’d say the fellas are getting used to their newfound fame quite well. They remain graciously humble, without all the ego, but reality did smack ‘em right in the face last year while playing a festival in Switzerland. The guys agreed that seemed to be a pretty huge “Oh SHIT!” moment for them. “That … moment, for me, was about five minutes before we were going on stage in Switzerland last year. There were 15,000 people there … and it was the biggest crowd we’d played for. That was one of the only shows in my whole career where I was shitting a brick. It was that nerve-racking. But, after the first two songs, the crowd was totally into it, and we got a standing ovation.” Griffin agrees: “It was mind-blowing to see that many people in one space. It was such a unique experience. And what a beautiful area Switzerland is, too. The band before us didn’t have much crowd engagement, so we were worried the crowd wouldn’t like us but two songs in, they were engaged and going nuts for every song. They were super loud, super high energy. It was nice to see that because majority of those people had no idea who we were. [It] was really amazing to have that reception and make so many new fans at once.” Ryan chimes back in: “Yeah, that is one of my favorite things about playing these festivals. No one knows who you are but if you’re good enough and blow people away, then everyone knows who you are. That makes fans for life.” Currently Adam and the Metal Hawks are gearing up for their UK tour happening later this year, and they’re already working on their third album. While there are currently no U.S. dates at this time, the band does expect for that to change. “We don’t have anything formal to announce just yet but, like I said, [we have this] new album that should be out by summer or end of the year … maybe singles and videos out by summer,” says Adam. “We’re playing a bunch of festivals this summer to push the album release, and we have the UK tour lined up. I’m sure very soon after there will be something announced for the States.” Rock gods, we hope so. The guys also hope to return to Canada for another tour after playing there last year, and they say they’d also like to get some South America dates. “We’re just looking to jump all over the world and just spread the music.” So, if you can’t tell by now, these guys are a group you’re going to want to follow and keep up with, because they’re on the verge of blowing up worldwide. And, given what they’ve already produced and released, there’s no telling what kind of genius is waiting in the wings. One thing’s for sure, though: Adam and the Metal Hawks are just getting started. Expect great things from these guys, my friends. Image courtesy of artist social media In the meantime, I highly recommend visiting their social media pages and diving into their videos. I spent an entire day going down the AMH video rabbit hole and there’s so much yumminess in there, I sat covered in chills, boosting my serotonin, whilst rocking out with them to Toto, Queen, Twisted Sister, Aerosmith , Scorpions , The Romantics, Meat Loaf, Bon Jovi , Led Zeppelin, Elton John, AC/DC (with water!) , Leonard Cohen , Metallica, Van Halen, Steppenwolf--do I need to keep going? Because I totally can. They’re downright entertaining, engaging, creative, talented, original, and full of that classic rock goodness we’ve all been longing to return. "We're just always trying to have fun in our videos," Ezegelian said. "That's why we have such a large following: They want that little piece of fun, that serotonin boost, in their day, and that's where we come in." One day, guys, people are going to be covering your tunes and paying you tribute in the honorable and exciting ways you are doing now. And so, my friends, I leave you with quite possibly some of the best compilation videos in existence. Enjoy, and don't say I didn't warn you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI2I10rNVSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucKQDibzh04 For more information on Adam and the Metal Hawks, and their badassery, cruise on over to any of the links below and rock your face off. YouTube @AMHBand Instagram @AMHBand www.amhband.com HOME | amhband.com AMH is a hard rock band from Long Island, New York, formed in 2019. The band consists of American Idol finalist Adam Ezegelian, along with Johnny Barry, Ryan Daversa and Alex Hertler. They released their debut album Adam and the Metal Hawks in April of 2020 and have since seen viral popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms. Twitter @AMHBand Facebook @AMHBand TikTok @AMHBand Spotify 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

RobenX is promising a legacy of influence that transcends music alone. < Back On the Rise: RobenX Nicole Brice May 8, 2024 Share RobenX is promising a legacy of influence that transcends music alone. Who is RobenX ? He is a fearless artist, a beacon of authenticity. His life is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit, drawing inspiration from the depths of human existence here in the School of Earth. With a profound narrative of resilience, talent, and empowerment, Roben is not just a musician but also an author, model, anti-bullying advocate, and advocate for albinism . His journey took him to Geneva, Switzerland, in 2018, where he spoke and performed at the United Nations during their Human Rights Day Celebration , a testament to his unwavering spirit. Credit: Andrew of Ejji Studios RobenX, originally Robdarius Brown, hails from Memphis, Tennessee, a city steeped in the rich musical traditions of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. His early life was marked by significant challenges, but it was through these trials that he discovered his refuge in music. It became his voice, escape, and a way to share his experiences with the world. RobenX's music is a unique fusion of genuine expression and profound emotional depth. It resonates with the vocal stylings of two hip-hop legends, Onyx and Eminem . If these two had a musical lovechild, it would be RobenX. His music is a return to intelligent hip-hop, reaching into the depths of your soul with its raw emotion. The energy he infuses into every song is palpable, radiating from every note and lyric, creating a powerful connection with his listeners. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2siUBr5-ho His newest single – “ Blood on the Leaves ,” – was released on April 3, 2024, and is a journey from the depths of pain and existence. It’s dark. It’s gritty. It’s honest. It is exactly what we need in music because it is authentic. On my favorite track, - “ Dial Tone ,”- released in 2022, Roben changes things up and sings a little more while going through the real emotions associated with disassociating from someone. The words are intense and full of pain, culminating in the chorus with the words, “This shouldn’t be the price of love.” So true, my friend, so true. Another favorite song of mine, “ Devoid ,” was released on the Mental Interlude EP in 2020 and is pure poetic genius because I’m sure many can identify with Roben's feelings of just being over everything in a moment of frustration and anger. However, what truly sets RobenX apart in the hip-hop community is his unwavering commitment to advocacy. Through his lyrics and public presence, he not only raises awareness about albinism but also challenges the stereotypes and misconceptions that surround individuals with this condition. His advocacy is a beacon of light, illuminating the path toward a more inclusive and understanding society. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_357554171ccd4987857a8a68c089271b/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Mixed Alternative Magazine recently had the opportunity to catch up with the extraordinary RobenX, and we enjoyed chatting about anything and everything. With so much depth to Roben’s character, we had a good bit of ground to cover, so take a moment to read more of our conversation below to learn about the phenomenal artist, RobenX. Credit: Andrew of Ejji Studios MaM : You’ve released a ton of music since 2012. What was the first song that you ever wrote? How did it feel to bring your musical vision to life via song? RobenX : I was a freestyler when I first started, and I was doing that when I recorded my first song, “They Love Me,” which is still out there, probably buried on my YouTube , but the first song I wrote was a song called “Just Maybe,” but I never released it. That was the first time I had decided to hone my craft. Writing was such a weird concept to me regarding writing music. I used to write stories all the time, but I had never written a song. I had to catch all the words flying by me with all these fleeting emotions, but once I started crafting a song, I realized how much more potent it could be and how much control I had over what I could say. MaM : How old were you when you wrote that? RobenX : I was 13 or 14. Credit: Daneel Ferreira MaM : Who would you say has influenced you the most when making music? I noticed you have quite a bit of diversity in your music. RobenX : I’m just going to rattle off a bunch of names because there are so many, but they are near and dear to what I do: Korn, Three Days Grace, Tupac, Tech N9ne, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, System of a Down, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Thousand Foot Krutch, Mindless Self Indulgence, The Temptations, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem. I almost forgot Michael Jackson and David Ruffin, too. MaM : There is such diversity. What mission statement would you like to convey to people discovering your music for the first time? RobenX : I want people to take my stories and use them to help themselves. I want to use my pain to heal the pain. I experienced a lot of different scenarios and got to experience things I probably shouldn’t have at a young age. Still, I want to testify that your past helps define you, but don’t let it limit you. The world is yours to do what you want, so use my words to appeal to you. Use my stories and find yourself in the music. Take my words and apply them to you. Credit: Andrew of Ejji Studios MaM : How do you approach the songwriting process? Take us through that. RobenX : It’s different every time because I’ve written some songs in five minutes. Some songs, though, can take months. Sometimes, I have an idea that I’ll record or write stuff down, but sometimes, the concept is there, but I just haven’t found the right instrumental. It all must align with the universe. I try not to do things the universe doesn’t need, so if the idea doesn’t speak to me, I usually discard it or set it aside until it’s time. Usually, I’ll hear a track and listen to what it is trying to get me to say, and I listen to the universe and the higher-ups who give me the stories I need. For example, a lot of what is going to be on “Shoulda Died” is just internal and reliving some of the past trauma that I experienced as a teenager and as a young adult. Credit: Andrew of Ejji Studios MaM : I like to call those universal happenings when you listen to the divine guidance given. So, the next question I have for you is funny but one that will get you thinking. You’re headed to live on a deserted island and can only bring CDs by five artists. What are you bringing? RobenX : Believe it or not, my list would be small. Ok, Smino’s “ Noir ,” Tupac’s “ All Eyez on Me ,” Kendrick Lamar’s “ Good Kid ,” Three Days Grace’s self-titled album , System of a Down’s “ Hypnotize ” or “ Toxicity ”. (laughter) Man…I can’t forget about Michael Jackson’s “ Thriller ”, too. That’s hard. (laughter) MaM : I love that. You are such an inspirational individual. So, what are you working on currently? You released a new single in April but must have something else in the pipeline. RobenX : I am working on a new project, and I’ll go ahead and give you the title; it’s called “Shoulda Died.” We’re also working on a coloring book inspired by my book, “ The Colors of Olleh ,” a children’s book, and Teiyonna Douglas is the illustrator of that book. She created all the pictures. She also did the cover art for several of my releases, including “ The Mental Interlude ” EP and for a mixtape I have on YouTube called Moldy . Her artwork is on that cover, too, and she’s been helping me a lot. She is creating the coloring book all by herself, though, and I give suggestions here and there, but I will also be releasing some songs from “ The Mental Interlude ” EP in their live versions. Credit: Daneel Ferreira MaM : Wow! So much is going on! So, when do you anticipate some of that dropping? RobenX : If I can, I want to have something out by June, but my goal is June or July. MaM : Let’s discuss your book, “ The Colors of Olleh ”. What was the process like putting all of that together? RobenX : The inception of “ The Colors of Olleh ” was simple. I wanted to write a book and tell a story about a child with Albinism but not have Albinism be the main focal point. I just wanted a character who had Albinism. He sees colors and lives in a world of black and white. I called Teiyonna immediately to pitch the idea to her, and she loved the concept. However, she thought about making each page monochrome to show that Olleh can see color when others cannot. The idea started snowballing to where colors were representing differences. When people don’t see people for who they truly are, they are living in black & white. To see the beauty of difference is to see in color. If you say you don’t see color, you live blind. It’s all subjective. Richard Hervey is the producer. He goes by the name of Enigma, but he has helped on numerous tracks of mine, and he was the one who helped turn the entire concept into a book. He took Teiyonna’s ideas and made them bigger, and then “ The Colors of Olleh ” was born, and Olleh’s name is just “hello” backward. Olleh is a traveler, though he could be anyone, and he meets a young lady in the story named Vye, who ends up being the leader of the story. Her character is to show people that they can step up and not wait for a change, but they can be the change. Olleh goes to this town to tell people that he can see color, and they can see color if they accept him. At first, people are hesitant, but then Vye decides she’s curious, so she accepts Olleh, and when she does, it’s easier for others to do so. It shows leadership. Step up and be the change. Small note: Vye’s name is taken from the color violet. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_19a08ae5304c461a84a2e6e4f0334441/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : You’ve done so much, a true Renaissance man, but I read you’ve also worked with the United Nations on some things. Tell us a little more about that. RobenX : I was doing some Albinism awareness and anti-bullying work and was asked to be part of a video educating people on Albinism. However, I didn’t think too much about it afterward. Years passed after I had done the video, and I didn’t hear from them. They didn’t have my e-mail, so they tried to reach out to me via my social media, but the messages went to my spam box for some reason. One day, I checked my spam folder, and there were many messages. I would have missed the opportunity if I had just waited a day later to read the messages. I was flown to Geneva, Switzerland, and I got to meet the High Commissioner of the United Nations, and it was insane. I was 18 or 19, and coming from Memphis, with growing up how I did, flying to a different country was wild. For reference, my grandmother has never left Memphis. My mom was the first in her family to graduate from college. This was a huge deal. Once I got there, I was allowed to speak about Albinism and human rights and what we could do to make a difference in other countries. See, in other countries, people with my condition are considered spiritual or magical and are often killed because of this. Their body parts are then used in rituals and incantations, but if the poachers don’t get them, then they are dying from skin cancer because of overexposure to the sun, and they don’t have access to proper healthcare for their conditions. I wanted to use my voice to see what we could do to help them. I was made a Human Rights Champion and allowed to meet other leaders from all walks of life. It was amazing. Very powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgktjQA3abc MaM : Where do you see yourself headed in the future? RobenX : I want to do so much, and I know I can’t save the world in a day, but the goal is to reach as many people through as many mediums as possible. I want to flood the market correctly with the right things. No matter where you turn, things aren’t full of love labor. I want to create mediums that speak to people, help people grow, and give people power. I believe we are on that journey, too, and I hope that in the next five years, we can reach people with positivity through all mediums. RobenX exemplifies the powerful intersection of art and advocacy with each new track, performance, and interview. His journey underscores the potential for music to entertain, enlighten, and provoke change. As his message spreads further, he promises a legacy of influence and change that transcends music alone. To check out Roben’s work catalog, hit the link below and be sure to follow him on social media. *cover photo by Andrew of Ejji Studios *videos provided by Extreme Dreams USA www.teamrobenx.com HOME | TeamRobenX 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 a celebration of community and music, inspired by hope and bold optimism. < Back Eclipse Fest 3 Returns to Lafayette: A May 2026 Gathering at Feed N Seed Nick Cline Jan 16, 2026 Share Eclipse Fest is a celebration of community and music, inspired by hope and bold optimism. Eclipse Fest is heading into its third year, growing each time into a celebration of community and evolution. It began with no connections, no experience, and no clear plan—just a passion to give the underdog a chance back in 2024 . That spirit has always driven the festival, serving as a platform for talent that might otherwise go unnoticed and offering the scene fresh sounds it deserves. What started as a small dream has now drawn participation from across Louisiana and interest from bands nationwide. The line-up for Eclipse Fest 3 In 2026 , a new vision is shaping Eclipse Fest , with alternative music and its unique aesthetic at the core. This year’s lineup features 14 bands over two days, plus a special guest from New York . Pre-sale tickets are $10 each / $15 at the door / or for a 2-day bundle, it's $25. More info can be found here . Day 1 welcomes back Double Knockout , HolleeStar , and Grey Areas , alongside Playing The Hero , Sick At Heart , Silvercapbaby , and Kismet —covering metal, emo/pop-punk, and indie/alternative for an eclectic day of music. Eclipse Fest Day 1 - May 15, 2026 Day 2 expands the sound, with returning acts Phantum Sun , Jean Claude Seagal , and Goodbye Academy joined by Carnelian , Elle H. , Belle Grove , and New York’s The Amatory Murder —bringing together grunge, alternative, emo, funk, and industrial influences for a dynamic close to the festival. Eclipse Fest Day 2 - May 16, 2026 The festival kicks off May 15th and 16th at Feed N Seed in Lafayette . Stay tuned to Eclipse Fest’s Facebook , follow-up articles, interviews, and band socials for all the details. Follow along as the story unfolds—a celebration of community and music, inspired by hope and bold optimism. For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/17mopWCTRA/ 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

Pure energy, speed, and catchy lyrics < Back VOID: Lafayette’s Answer to the Modern Thrash Metal Scene Je'an-Paul Keller Jul 9, 2023 Share Pure energy, speed, and catchy lyrics Coming up August 19, 2023 , Louisiana’s own metal masters VOID are set to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in Lafayette, Louisiana , and they are the first in our installment of interviews with all the acts on the bill. These guys are the new face of heavy metal and if you’re not familiar with them yet, you soon will be. The five-piece powerhouse of thrash metal goodness known as VOID formed in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 2019 by the Davenport brothers, Jackson and Logan, who grew up loving bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Anthrax, to name a few. I truly went into the void when I listened to their debut album Horrors of Reality . It’s pure nostalgia and an excellent nod to the mid-to-late 80’s thrash metal days of the past—Jackson guitars and Marshall amps that punch through your ear drums straight to your brain. The current line-up is Jackson Davenport (vocals), Gabe LeJeune (guitar), Logan Davenport (bass), Alex Bernard (guitar), and Aaron Landry (drums). Credit: Chad Besse Everything about this band is pure energy and speed, with catchy screaming lyrics that will make you think, make you laugh, or make you get lost in your own mind; either way, VOID’s music will leave you wanting more. These guys almost incite a riot every single night they take the stage due to the intensity of their shows, and they love interacting with their fans. Ready to emerge from the Louisiana metal scene and take the world by storm, VOID is like a pack of hungry sharks and is quickly gaining local and national attention. Tearing up the Gulf Coast with their in-your-face riffs, ripping dueling leads, melodic harmonies, tasteful bass lines, and fast and precise drumming, VOID is a band you need to check out now . Not to mention, they have insanely visual music videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyGsY3EmGIQ Official Video for 'Voodoo' Currently on tour with Labyrinth and Life on Mars , I recently caught up with Jackson and Lily Shea, the band’s photographer and videographer, to rap about who they are, their live videos, and what the future holds for them. Here’s your chance to get to know a little more about VOID , then afterwards, be sure to catch them at Rad Fest 2023 in August. MaM : I’ve been listening to your album for the last two days and I really like it. The thrash metal sound totally brings me back to my childhood and growing up in the eighties. Jackson : Awesome, man, I appreciate that. MaM : Who or what has inspired your sound? Jackson : We formed back in 2019, and we were very driven by Black Sabbath, weirdly enough. We wanted to play stuff like Black Sabbath but heavier. Then, over the years, we [went] through a few different line-up changes, and we found thrash metal. You know, coming out of the big four, we found bands like Exodus, Testament, and Forbidden. I think those three bands are very big inspirations to us and still are with the music that we write today. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Awesome. I actually thought you guys sounded a lot like Anthrax, MEGADETH, old school Metallica, and old school Slayer. Jackson : Those are definitely sources of inspiration as well. Whenever we started playing thrash, we wanted to be Metallica so bad, and then we kind of just grew out of that and found the better stuff, I guess. I mean, I still got [sic] love for Metallica, but that’s basically where it all came from, I guess. MaM : What would you say influences you to make music? Jackson : Music is a way for me, and I speak for all the guys, and I say this, but it’s a way for us to basically escape from our problems and stress and get together and work on something as a team to make something awesome that we’re all proud of. So, we always look forward to writing new music, because it gives us an excuse to go out and work as a team and create something. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Can you tell us a little more about how your band initially came together? Jackson : It started with me and two buddies. We were jamming some old Black Sabbath songs in the garage and were like, “DUDE, let’s start a band,” and we did. We all had musical differences, though, and kind of parted ways after that initial jam session, but the name VOID and the idea just kind of stuck with me and I ended up finding the people that had the same vision I had, and we just kind of started it from there. MaM : Love the name for the band and was wondering if you could give us a little background info on it? Jackson : So, it actually goes back to the whole Black Sabbath thing. We worshipped Black Sabbath and wanted to play music like that. We were playing at a party a long, long time ago, but we didn't have a name and decided on VOID because of “Into the Void” and the whole Black Sabbath imagery thing. It just kind of stuck. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : I love your sound and your tone. What mic do you use? And whenever you generate your voice, what kind of vocal exercises do you do beforehand? Jackson : I'm the worst person to ask about this, but usually I'm using a Shure SM 58 for vocals. For other shows that are more like DIY, I have this one vocal mic that belongs to our drummer that I like to use. I cannot think of the name right now. I make sure I drink a lot of water with honey in it, too, because that helps. I'll run through scales with my voice, too, before shows and usually it helps lubricate my throat. MaM : I’ve noticed your fans like to join you on stage sometimes at shows. How does that make you feel? Jackson : It's awesome, dude! It's so cool, man. Makes me feel like all our hard work is paying off when people sing our songs with us. MaM : Your whole look and your music videos and images are quite unique. Will you shed a little light on the inspiration behind some of the videos you guys have done? Lily Shea : It has become second nature to have my camera out all the time because I never know when I'm gonna strike gold, but the music videos are just such a blast and everything we do is impulsive. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Was the video for “Voodoo” shot at a real cemetery or on a studio set? Jackson : It was shot at Fright Trail in Scott, Louisiana, which is almost like a haunted house attraction because it's all woods and creepy. MaM : You guys did a bad-ass cover of Megadeth’s “Sweating Bullets.” Is there a particular reason you decided to cover that song? Jackson : We've only played that song maybe two or three times and it was because at a jam practice one time, I started singing the words “sweating bullets” in a Dave Mustaine-sounding voice and then we discussed playing it. We initially ran through it as a joke, but it sounded kind of cool. We played it for the next few shows after that until we got tired of it. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : Can I ask how tagging Snoop Dogg for the “Feeding Frenzy” video came about? Jackson : We are so stupid and think that we're so funny. “Feeding Frenzy” was a brand-new song at the time, and when I was typing out the captions for the video, I asked the guys in the band what else should I put. ‘Is that all that I should put?’ Someone in the band mentioned tagging Snoop Dogg, so I put in the captions, “Everybody tag Snoop Dogg,” and I got so many comments tagging him because of it. Snoop never did see the video, but I’m sure he would have loved it. Credit: Chad Besse MaM : What does the future hold for VOID? Jackson : Right now, we are working on a new single. We want to put out new music by August or September as a refresh for our fans. We probably won't do another full length for about a year or so, but we are also in talks with some big-name bands to play shows, too, so we’ve got quite a bit coming up. To experience VOID for yourself, be sure to check out one of their links below, and don’t forget to catch them at Radfest in August! • VOID • | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree Void | Spotify *cover photo courtesy of Chad Besse Je’an Paul Keller is a member of the 501st Legion and a huge sci-fi nerd. He’s also a HUGE music lover and is very passionate about drawing, sketching, painting, and making cosplays and movie-accurate costumes. The force is strong with this one. 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

A Fresh Approach to Pop Art & Surrealism < Back Brilliance for a New Era: Lori Bequette Nicole Brice Nov 6, 2022 Share A Fresh Approach to Pop Art & Surrealism Sometimes an artist’s work catches my eye, and I am instantly hooked. This go-round one artist has truly exemplified what it means to learn from the greats to make new interpretations of mediums made famous by those before her, and eye-catching her work is , indeed. May I introduce, Lori Bequette . Lori Bequette Lori is based out of Baton Rouge, LA where she lives with her husband and 4 y/o daughter trying to balance motherhood with creating art. Growing up, Lori cannot recall a time when she was not fascinated with or not actually creating something. “I think a huge part of my entire identity has been always knowing that I am an artist. It has always just been there, ya know?”, says Lori upon being asked when she knew she had the itch to create. In recent years, Lori’s path has taken a detour due to her duties as a mother, but that has not stopped her from doing what she loves. “I went from painting everyday to not painting at all. Having a supportive partner, and allowing myself to create again, has been detrimental to my mental health, and I honestly assumed I would be rusty [when picking up a paint brush again], but instead picking up my brushes again was like riding a bike, and in many ways, I felt like my skills had somehow ‘leveled up’. It felt SO GOOD to be painting again.” Art by Lori Bequette Lori’s work is so stunning that you can’t help but stop to take notice and admire the detail she puts into each painting. With a knack for capturing life in vivid detail, Lori’s pieces jump right out at you. Art by Lori Bequette When asked who or what inspires her style, Lori responded, “This is hard for me to answer. I am self-taught and have never taken any classes or courses, so my style and techniques were developed by me. I take inspiration from an enormous variety of artists and turn to diverse styles and mediums to guide and influence my creativity. I especially love when I find a new artist with work that leaves me questioning my own interpretation of a message or story.” Lori’s work is ever-changing and geometrically guided with influences from both Pop Art and Surrealism . Often incorporating abstract components, her paintings usually begin with a face or character where she builds upon that concept to tell a story. Art by Lori Bequette “I’m often blending nature and animals into my work in an unusual way. The hexagon is a shape I implement quite regularly. It’s such a precise and symmetrical design, yet like a puzzle, forming a more fluid shape or figure.” Art by Lori Bequette When asked which famous artist she would like to spend the day with, living or dead, given the chance, she replied, “Well, that does not seem fair, BUT I am going to choose Rene Magritte . He had such talents, and I mean, he had the ability to forge other artists’ work to sell when he struggled with poverty showcasing a wide skill range. He was able to aesthetically play with illusion within his own work by giving ordinary objects new context and meaning. His pieces were always thought provoking. I would love to tour his mind.” Lori doesn’t credit one specific person with giving her the want and need to create, but instead says, “I don’t think there’s just one person. My family, my friends, even strangers whom I never met on social media have always supported me in my adventures. My husband has always been extremely supportive in me pursuing my dreams and I feel lucky to be able to work from home. I gained support early in life from teachers who recommended I be evaluated for creative giftedness, but I remember just loving that. With support from teachers, I found school to be less exhausting than others. I do have ADHD and am a victim of childhood abuse and trauma, so having the opportunity to have a safe place to withdraw and create was a relief at times. It goes without saying that art, even in my 40’s, is still a tool to withdraw and escape because we all need that. I need it.” To check out Lori’s amazing masterpieces and to see about purchasing some of her work, you can visit her on social media via Facebook and Instagram . Lori Bequette Art | Facebook Lori Bequette (@art_bylori) • Instagram photos and videos Art by Lori Bequette 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

Insightful, brilliant, and talented < Back Alfred Banks: A Blessing from the Crescent City Nicole Brice May 22, 2023 Share Insightful, brilliant, and talented Growing up, I loved the hip-hop showcased on programs like Yo! MTV Raps . The music had heart and a meaningful message. However, over the years, hip-hop has seemingly evolved away from impactful rhymes and verses towards themes focused on excess, elaborate stage shows, and corporate endorsements. As a result, I stopped paying attention and shifted my musical tastes elsewhere—until one artist emerged who could rhyme about anything and everything, with verses that had both meaning and heart. Alfred Banks ' body of work is so diverse that it will leave you amazed. He can take a blank piece of paper and create a rhyme about it right on the spot. Banks is a hip-hop musician based out of New Orleans, La. , and his latest release, ' Blessing ,' is a nod to the city that raised him. In the song, he says, “It’s a blessing coming from the Crescent” and for Alfred Banks, indeed it is. The man reps New Orleans wherever he goes, and we are lucky to be able to enjoy his talent. Banks got his start in the industry under the moniker Lyriqs Da Lyraciss at age 17 and has shared the stage with Rakim , Lupe Fiasco , Wu-Tang Clan , Tyga , Desiigner , and Kendrick Lamar , among others. He has performed at New Orleans-based events Voodoo Fest and Jazz Fest , and he even visited Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany. Did I mention one of his songs was used for a Volkswagen commercial and that numerous songs of his are licensed to shows and movies? His knack for rhyming, his charisma, and his insightful lyrics are what got him noticed in the biz and, as we like to say, the rest is history. He has been steadily churning out music ever since, with many new ones this year, but he does not limit himself to solo material—no. This man is involved in so many projects, we lost count after a while. We did ask him about all those wonderful endeavors, though, and you can read more about them in this interview. Currently, Alfred is focused on promoting his newest album Nectarine Peels , which is part of his collaboration with Albert Allenback of Tank and the Bangas in a group called Saxkixave . These two are like the odd couple of hip-hop and their infectious videos are beyond hilarious and showcase Bank’s personality in a whole new light. In fact, the duo goes together like peanut butter and jelly and truly do complement one another. Albert makes these killer beats and Alfred comes up with the wittiest rhymes to go with them. Released May 18, 2023 In addition to Saxkixave , Alfred is continuing to perform shows like crazy, showcasing his solo material. Check out this convo we had with him recently, then go check out his catalog of material. You will fall in love with him as much as we have. MaM : When I first discovered your music, the thing that drew me in was your use of words. You can pretty much make a rhyme about anything. When did you realize you had this gift with words to take it to the next level professionally? AB : I remember when I was in sixth or seventh grade, I used to freestyle a lot. I lived in Tallulah, Louisiana for, like, three years and I would freestyle a lot with some of the kids around there. I would gravitate towards anybody who rapped—actually, I’ll go back a little further. Fifth or sixth grade was when I started noticing that I liked remixing songs in my own way. Me and my man Nigel would make comedic remixes for them. We would take any song that was hot at the time, which was 2000/2001 , and remix them about food. I started noticing I could do that off the top of my head. … Junior high was when I started to write raps, which were kinda cool. I was more into that battle type of energy. My sophomore year of high school was when I truly started writing, though. … I really started freestyle battle rapping and I noticed I could think of things on the spot. My whole thing was coming from New Orleans , you have to know how to rib and I got ribbed a lot … picked on a lot and my way to fight back was to just rap. I would just head to toe and people would die laughing. That’s kind of how I got my name. I started uploading music to MySpace and stuff. It started getting a little bit of traction and I did some shows around town. I started battling first. … I just started noticing that if I looked at someone, I could make a rap about it to whatever degree. I fell off it for some years, though, and focused on my songwriting and touring. Around 2019 , I did a tour with my man Mega Ran and he did this thing where he would ask people to hold stuff up in the air and he would freestyle about it on the spot and I [thought that was amazing and wondered if I could do that]. I started doing it with Saxkixave and it goes over well and keeps my freestyle sharp. People kind of know me as a freestyle guy now, so it’s kind of cool, then you meet someone like Ray Wimley , who is a freestyle savant, and he went viral because he freestyled with Common a few years back for Essence Fest . We actually did a freestyle battle at a Pelican’s game and that was me in front of thousands of folks having to put my freestyle skills to the test and, respectfully, I was the victor in that situation. … I don’t really write a lot, not as much as I’d like, but freestyling just kind of works. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Well, as far as your lyrics for your songs, what inspires your lyrics? 'Blessing,' of course, is based upon your love for New Orleans, but I was listening to your music and you’re all over the place with content and what you talk about. None of your songs are the same. AB : I know sometimes it makes it hard to be marketable when you do a lot of different things, but I just have a lot of different interests and I’m not always in the same space. To some degree, I guess I need to find a vein, but for the most part, I’m all over the place and I love that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIbOpf3wVp8 'Blessing' performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2023 MaM : Where did Underdog Central come from? AB : That’s my life mantra I live by. Underdog Central is the place where the overlooked go to hone their skills to come back and become admired. It’s my label name, too, and my social media handle. I made it my social media handle ‘cause Alfred Banks was taken, but because it’s my label, I wanted that name to be first before anything. I want people to know what my brand is. When I first came out, I was a little rough around the edges, a little unrefined, so I had to go back into my proverbial batcave and fix things. I came back out, though, and now am who I am. I feel like the people who are extremely talented tend to get overlooked and are always having to fight from behind from a deficit and always must prove who they are no matter if they are the most talented one in the room or not. You can’t take anything for granted and you must treat every moment as if it’s your last, so that’s what Underdog Central is about. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Are you born and raised in New Orleans? AB : Uptown, yeah, uptown New Orleans. Uptown kid for sure. MaM : Your brand of hip-hop is the type that is missing these days. It has those classic undertones and that hint of nostalgia. Your lyrics with 'Blessing' are so insightful and that song truly resonates with me. AB : Yeah, that’s a style of record I have never done before. One thing I have been noticing lately is I am the most off-brand New Orleans person you will ever meet. [I’m] born and raised in this bad boy, but when you look at my everything … I don’t even look like I’m from New Orleans. I don’t act like I’m from New Orleans…like some things I don’t even relate to, but I am definitely from here, but I never made a song I felt could resonate here. All the music I make is more for everyone. I also made it from the angle of where if someone from Detroit heard it, they could be like, ‘I feel this way about my city.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KbtuRVxlQ4 'Blessing' on YouTube MaM : What struggles or roadblocks did you encounter when you first tried to break into the industry? AB : Just making hip-hop in New Orleans. There was a big scene from 2007-2015 where it was a community and there were shows happening and people would come out to the shows and we all tried to support each other and spread the word about each other’s stuff, then after that, there was a shift in the music. I can say to a degree that I’ve stayed contemporary with my style. It doesn’t sound like it’s from 1989 or anything, but the more lyric heavy and conceptual idea-driven music doesn’t have as big of a platform here as other stuff. The people in the scene here, though, started to get older and started [coming out less]. That and the fact that New Orleans is not a hip-hop city, and so it doesn’t matter how talented you are. It’s been like, ‘Where’s your bounce song?’ or ‘You got a dude playing trombone on it?’. It’s funny now, though, the response I’ve gotten for the song ' Blessing ' … thirteen years into my career, you would have thought it was the first song I ever made because everyone is like ‘Finally, you got a record we like.’ I’ve got albums that have charted across the U.S., but that record is doing pretty good in New Orleans, specifically. Pick your battles. My biggest thing was just trying to do my brand and my style of hip-hop and bust open these doors that are solely reserved for people who do Zydeco or brass band music—stuff people consider New Orleans but, to a fault, it’s so New Orleans that no one wants to hear anything else. But I always thought it was weird that these big platforms—these big festivals here—only portray a certain style of New Orleans; where’s the hip-hop? That’s always been the main issue with me. I want to be the guy that can go into a room filled with musicians who do not do hip-hop to any degree but do my thing and it resonate or translates with them. I’ve kind of become that guy, though. I’m the guy in a room full of brass bands and zydeco bands who is the hip-hop representation, which is a gift and a curse because I never get to perform for my people. I always get to perform for people who are being exposed to what I do for the first time, so it kind of creates this very uncomfortable energy, which can be a bit weird at times. I’m a part of this group called Glbl Wrmng and we’re doing this Wednesday at the Square thing, which I don’t know the last time they had a hip-hop group perform there, but … I have this never say die, blind optimistic view of life, though, so I just keep going for some strange reason. credit: Gary Governale MaM : No, but that’s a good thing! You’re not admitting defeat at all. You’re just like, “I don’t care what you’re gonna throw at me. I’m just gonna keep doing my thing until it resonates,” ya know? AB : …and the funny thing is it hasn’t stopped me. I’ve been able to tour all over the world. I guess it’s not that big of a deal, but for me it is. I’m doing it less about me and more about the next. I’m a young guy, but I’ve been out for a while, and so I just want to look out for the next guys coming up that feel like me because everybody is a street rapper, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I come from the hood, but I don’t see it from that angle. I was in a house and my mom kept me in the crib, and not everyone is from that cloth. There are people, though, that take those experiences and turn them into something else. Not what you would expect. I just try my best to be that alternative for people who love hip-hop, care about bars, care about lyricism and concepts, good beats, melodies, etc. MaM : … and you bring it all. You’ve got the whole package with it. AB : I appreciate that. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Glbl Wrmng — tell me more about this. AB : Word, so Glbl Wrmng is a collective about 35 people in the city from engineers to producers to singers to rappers, graphic artists, etc., and we just all [come together] … so Glbl Wrmng is like, ‘Nope! We can!’ So that’s what we’ve done and as a collective. We’ve performed at Buku Fest , we’ve opened for Tyler the Creator , and we’ve played Jazz Fest . We’re going to be playing Wednesday at the Square , and so we’re using this as a platform to get some of the guys in the group exposure with their first big stages to give them that experience and to be around people like Pell or Train or me to help usher in those guys to just make great music. I love being a part of Glbl Wrmng. It’s very interactive. It’s teaching me how to support people from a very active standpoint, and I truly mean it when I do it and vice versa. It’s allowing me to also get involved with other people’s careers to some degree, which is fire. MaM : Well, it’s a collective grouping of like-minded individuals all supporting each together, which is awesome. AB : Yeah. Glbl Wrmng put out an album during the pandemic and I’m on it. Saxkixave is on it. It’s called ‘ Glbl Wrmng Vol. 1 ’ and it’s a dope record. We’re working on Vol. 2 right now, but at the end of the day the one thing I have learned is that collaboration is very important, especially for me the past three years. Working with Soul Rebels , working with Brassaholics , working with Flow Tribe , working with Glbl Wrmng , working with Tank and the Bangas , and all these different people has been helping me elevate my platform and get in spaces where I probably wouldn’t be normally. I’m very grateful for that. Just working to get that buzz to where it needs to be and it’s been a trial at times, but I want to just keep rapping and keep working and the inevitable will happen at some point. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, 2023 you’re gonna just do a lot of touring or are you working on any other new solo music? AB : … Instead of putting out new stuff to the same folks, I already have music that resonates, so from there I think I’m going to use videos and promos as a ploy to get people to check out the catalog I have and then go from there. I have a lot of music that hasn’t been unearthed just yet. I have a project called Mere-Exposure Effect , which I feel is one of my best projects writing-wise. It shows I could do radio records if I really wanted to. Mere-exposure effect is an idea that if you recognize it, you’ll like it, so the whole project sounds like radio records. If it sounds like something you already know, then you’ll like it by default. I have a project called ‘ Road to a Rolex ’—some of my hardest hitting beats. I’m rapping about getting money the entire project but from a couple different aspects. I have a project titled ‘ One Guy Standing by Himself. ’ That project debuted at number three on iTunes . It was one of my most successful projects to date. That’s a project I wrote to get myself out of the mind state of COVID . I wrote that project in like a week and it’s more introspective and a little lighter-hearted. I [also] have a project called The Beautiful and that’s my magnum opus and is my biggest project to date. That project is about my brother and his struggle with schizophrenia and his ultimate suicide. The day of his funeral, I had to leave in the middle of his service because I had a show to play that night, and so I wrote an album about the car ride from the funeral to the show, so in that album, I develop schizophrenia too; so, I sort of battle it throughout the album. That’s my biggest project to date and a lot of people don’t even know it exists. I’ve also got The Range 1 and 2 . I do a song with Wheatus and a bunch of people. It’s like five different genres in one project. credit: Gary Governale MaM : I am just blown away with all the projects you have. How do you even sleep? AB : Well, for me, I did go through a time where I was putting out a lot of music and it does seem like a lot, but it really isn’t. I’ve got songs that if someone goes back in like 15 years to discover them, they’ll be like, ‘That shit was fire!’. A catalog full of those records. Some may consider me a conscious rapper and I’m not conscious in the vein of social or political issues, but I rap about things from my point of view. MaM : Well, just life. I’ve listened to all your music, and you are all over the place. No song is alike. You have so many different styles and facets to your personality and what you do. You can go from a silly track to something super serious. AB : For sure. MaM : … which I feel is so endearing and is going to continue to resonate with people—even those who are just now discovering you for the first time. AB : Honestly man, that’s just how my brain works, cause we’re human. We all go all over place. There are some days where you are very happy and so you want to listen to a happy song and then there are days where you are not happy and you don’t want to even hear music, but if you do, you want to hear some sad stuff that is introspective. Some days you want to hear something lyrical. Some days you will want to hear something conceptually driven, but that’s just how I feel. Sometimes I don’t want to write a rap record, I want to write a dance record. I want to do some EDM . I want to do like a hyper-pop record. There are some days I want to do some industrial shit. credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s what I’m talking about. That’s my kind of music. AB : Some days I wake up, I want to go work with Albert and do some jazz or acid hip-hop or some days I just want to rap my ass off to show people how good I am. That’s just where I’m at and the path I’m on and people seem to like it. MaM : I think it’s a great path and, in fact, I don’t think you should change a thing with what you are doing. I think it shows diversity and it does not keep you in a certain type of music or anything. You are unique and different and have your own brand that is going to resonate because it is so unique and different. AB : Thank you. I’ll tell you this with all the things that have gone against me, all I’ve ever had [were] my skills and [they have] gotten me further than anything else I’ve ever done. I think that is what is going to keep me busy and keep my lights on. I just care about music, and I care about being good. I do come from the competitive aspect where if you put me on stage with other rappers, I’m going to try and outperform. I want to be the best in every room I’m in and I don’t know too many who still care about that. credit: Gary Governale MaM : You are nothing but heart. AB : Thank you. I want people to go, ‘I want to be invested in his brand of great because that boy is good.’ At the end of the day, though, I’m an entertainer, so it’s not about me. It’s about you, the audience, and I like to keep those things in mind. MaM : What are your plans for the rest of 2023? I know we’re halfway in, but where do you see the rest of the year headed for you? AB : It’s weird, I’m at this weird transitional part of my career where the business infrastructure that has been supporting me is not there because we decided to do our own thing and go our separate ways, but I’m back solo. I’ve been adjusting to that. We do have some other things down the line, though. Pre-COVID, I was doing close to 100 shows a year and in June, I’m going to Ohio. I’ll do three shows out there, then I’m going to Colorado in July. Just trying to get back to the West Coast. To experience all that is Alfred Banks, hit one of the links below. You won’t regret it. Alfred Banks (@underdogcentral) • Instagram photos and videos Alfred Banks | Facebook Alfred Banks | Spotify ‎Alfred Banks on Apple Music Saxkixave | Facebook SaxKixAve (@saxkixave) • Instagram photos and videos @SaxKixAve | Linktree *Cover photo 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 Nicole Brice loves good music and loves discovering new music she has not heard yet. Do you have something you’d like her to hear? Hit her up at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Phantum Sun’s music blends the ethereal with the visceral in a lush atmospheric fusion. < Back Phantum Sun: An Immersive Journey Through Sound Margo Leblanc Aug 26, 2024 Share Phantum Sun’s music blends the ethereal with the visceral in a lush atmospheric fusion. Phantum Sun , a Louisiana-based band from Lafayette known for its unique sound and dependability, has recently surprised the local music scene with its unwavering work ethic and drive. But why? What started it all, and who influenced them? Who is Phantum Sun ? Phantum Sun is grunge with a bit of rock and a little alternative . They don’t have one specific category that their music falls into. The band makes music for those who appreciate the artistry of creating songs. Phantum Sun started because of Nick Cline and Alec Louviere's high school aspirations to create together. In 2023, when long-time friend Drake Lasseigne joined the two, the line-up became complete, and here we are. The trio is full of spirit and angst, shown heavily in their music. Nick is on vocals and guitar, Drake is on bass, and Alec rounds it all out on the kit. Credit: Facebook Phantum Sun’s music balances the familiar warmth of nostalgic tones with a forward-thinking approach to composition. Lyrically, Phantum Sun is all about introspection and emotional depth. The lyrics aren’t always straightforward, but that’s part of their charm. With three singles under their belt, the band’s latest song, ‘ Robbery ,’ was released in May 2024 and is reminiscent of early 90s alt-rock by The Smashing Pumpkins , Screaming Trees , and Buffalo Tom . Mixed Alt Mag recently had the opportunity to speak with the guys from Phantum Sun about their music, aspirations, and more. Take a moment to learn what makes this band so unique below. MAM : Thank you for speaking with me today. First, who inspired you to pursue music, and how did they influence your original songs? Alec : Anything 80s related to rock' n’ roll got me to get up and start learning drums. Feeling the beat and sound of that era made me want to get up and do the stuff these guys were doing. Drake : I’ve been interested in music since I was a kid but didn’t have an outlet to learn to play an instrument until middle school. I took up saxophone, but it’s not the type of music I was into. My dad loved the look and sound of the grunge movement in the '90s, so he showed me the hard bass lines of Krist Novoselic and the melody powerhouses Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell . No questions what inspires me to make music. Nick : My biggest inspirations were my love of blues, grunge, metal, and everything really. I grew up listening to Ozzy Osbourne , Metallica , Stevie Ray Vaughan , Soundgarden , Green Day , and Alice in Chains . Eventually, I found myself fascinated with garage rock, which was my tipping point regarding sound and songwriting. All my influences have now fused to make one absurd amalgamation of tones, influences, and passion. It all ties together to make up the sound of Phantum Sun. Credit: Facebook MAM : How would you describe writing new music and the process that goes with it? Alec : I like to feel what the other two put together, then come in and see what fits the style we’re going for in that specific song. Drake : Nick writes the guitar parts and lyrics, so whenever he shows them to us, I watch and listen to what he has to say and start thinking of bass lines that match to get the best bass line I can for that particular song. Nick : I usually write many lyrics and guitar parts per day. Then, I bring the melodies, guitar parts, and lyrics to the band. After that, we jam and feel out the idea until it sounds like what we want as a unit. Credit: Facebook MAM : Who would you love to collaborate with one day? Why that person? Alec : I’d personally love to collaborate with Tommy Lee , just to study and learn about his drumming style. Drake : Definitely, Dave Grohl . Dave is my favorite musician and seems to be a genuinely good guy. He knows so much about the industry that I could learn from. Nick : I would love to collaborate with Jack White . Jack is why I picked up the guitar five years ago, and I haven’t put it down since. His guitar tone and passion for music would make for a wicked collaboration that would lead to me learning more as a musician. Credit: Facebook MAM : Where is your favorite venue where you’ve performed so far? I know you guys have been playing shows like crazy. Alec : I enjoy outdoor venues, partially because we can be as loud as we want; it feels freer, and the crowd tends to engage more. Drake : The 19th Hole in Houston, Texas has been my favorite so far. The bar's vibe has been immaculate every time we’ve been there; the stage is huge, and the sound guy is amazing and does such a great job. Nick : My favorite venue is a toss-up between Artmosphere and the 19th Hole . Both venues have shown unimaginable kindness to me and the guys. The vibe and sound of both venues keep me wanting to come back more and more every time we play there. Credit: Facebook MAM : That’s awesome. Having the support of the venues is enormous, in my opinion. What skills have you learned along the way that help you to be productive as a musician? Alec : After learning bits and pieces from other bands that we’ve played with, I’ve learned to practice consistently, but also being patient really helps when it comes to drumming. Drake : To me, it’s the chemistry between Alec, Nick, and me on and off stage. It never gets tedious or tiring if you trust each other. Nick : Practicing, trust in the process, hard work, networking, and the ability to learn from the smallest lessons are all skills that I have adopted and built on to become a more productive musician. Credit: Facebook MAM : What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses in being musicians? Alec : I think my strengths and weaknesses go hand in hand; it’s weird. I’m still learning as we go. Drake : The ability to blend what Nick does on guitar and Alec does on drums into something that makes the song thicker and heavier. My weakness is my age, which is due to my lack of experience. I’ve only been playing bass since 2021. Nick : I think my greatest strength as a musician is my never-ending sense of wonder and passion for music. It keeps me on the path of learning and evolving as a songwriter and musician. My greatest weakness is my need to be too hard on myself. Credit: Facebook MAM : Outside of music, what other hobbies and interests do you have? Alec : I know it’s probably not a “cool” thing to admit, but I’m a huge wrestling fan. I’m all about anything WWE . I also love puzzles, if anyone needed more proof of me being a nerd. (laughter) Drake : I’m a big outdoorsman. I love hunting and fishing, especially here in my home state of Louisiana . I feel so comfortable when I’m either on stage, on a boat, or in a duck blind. Nick : Outside of music, I am deeply interested in learning about anything I can, writing, watching horror, fantasy, sci-fi, etc., reading comics (preferably DC), and whatever else sparks the ADHD fuel in my head. Credit: Facebook MAM : What would you be doing if it weren’t for your interest in a music career? Alec : In all honesty, I have no idea. I never really had a backup plan. Drake : I’d probably be going to college for something related to the tech industry, but I never really had a plan B in mind. Nick : I would be in a field related to writing. Writing has always been my second love, after music, so anything dealing with that would be great for me. With their first tour approaching this fall, Phantum Sun continues to work hard to make a name for themselves in the local scene and beyond. If they come to your town, take a chance and see them live. You might just be a little surprised. They are a band built on hopes, dreams, and aspirations of someday making it big with raw talent and an unconditional love for music. That love fuels their drive to pursue no other life paths besides making music for the masses. To experience the music of Phantum Sun, just hit one of the links below. Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/artist/5PdjxAClNtSIyvvnj2vgsU Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/artist/phantum-sun/1710758804 YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@phantumsunofficial Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/people/Phantum-Sun/61556703719338/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/phantumsunband/ www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Margo Leblanc loves listening to music, writing about music, and discovering new music. Do you have a band you think she'd like? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Solid Alternative Rock < Back A Melodic Rock Offering: Caustic Waves Nicole Brice Feb 27, 2023 Share Solid Alternative Rock Hello guys and gals, I have some new music for your ears and, of course, I must share. I recently stumbled upon a musician out of Glasgow, Scotland , by the name of Neil Thomas . By day, he’s a full-time software engineer, and by night, he’s a producer with a lifelong passion for music that has culminated in his latest project, Caustic Waves . Although it is a new project, Neil has been in the business over 20 years. He started out in the mid-2000’s as the guitarist for the metal band Keitel and then switched to bass and backing vocals as part of the power-pop band The Chinaskis . Photo provided by artist With Caustic Waves , Neil combines elements from both bands into a melodic and solid rock offering with a tinge of a pop-rock vibe reminiscent of 90’s alt bands such as Trapt. Launched in March 2022 , Caustic Waves came onto the scene with the debut single ' Regenerate ,' which was the first in a series of single releases throughout 2022. Neil has continued to stay busy since then writing and recording new material. On Friday, March 3, 2023 , a new six-track EP titled Full Circle drops via all streaming platforms and as a limited-edition CD as well. Be sure to check out his new release once it drops and pay attention to the standout tracks ' Barriers ' and ' Idiocracy '. Full Circle releases March 3, 2023 via all streaming platforms We recently threw some questions Neil’s way so you could get a better feel for this up-and-coming artist and his work. MaM : If you could cite your favorite band as far as influence, who would it be? NT : Picking one is tough, but I'm going to go with Helmet. Their 90s output is absolutely essential for alternative/post-hardcore fans, and, in particular, their album 'Aftertaste' is a big influence on my sound. For me, it has the perfect blend of heavy guitars with strong vocal melodies. That's my aim with Caustic Waves—loud rhythm guitars underneath melodic vocals and layers of harmonies. The original Helmet drummer, John Stanier, is a huge influence, too. He has such a unique and identifiable groove, and my approach to drums is very much based on his style. MaM : We are huge Helmet fans here, too, so good pick. As far as vocal influences, who is your favorite front man? NT : Jonah Matranga (Far/Onelinedrawing etc) is a big influence on my vocal approach, and he's an absolute legend. In terms of a favourite front man, it's hard to look past Maynard James Keenan from Tool/A Perfect Circle. He is such an enigma on stage, and his voice is incredible. Photo provided by artist MaM : Good picks, again. You have excellent taste in music, and we approve. What type of guitar do you play and why? NT : I play a Schecter C-1 Diamond Series, which I've had since 2005. I bought that guitar when I played with my first band, Keitel. My approach to playing guitar hasn't really changed since then, which is why there's a strong late-90s/early-00s influence to the sound of Caustic Waves. I keep meaning to treat myself to a new guitar, but I still love to play my Schecter, and it suits my sound well. MaM : Ok, let’s talk gear. How do you achieve your sound and what pedals / gear was used in the recording of the new material? NT : Although I have a reasonable collection of pedals that I used for demos, the guitar tones on the EP were all achieved with the amp sim plugin, BIAS FX. Amp sim technology has progressed a lot since I started using Amplitube back in 2010, and it wasn't too hard to dial in the tones I was looking for. It was also somewhat out of necessity. I recorded the guitars at nighttime in my home studio when my kids were asleep downstairs. The drums are virtual too, using GetGood Drums - Modern and Massive. MaM : Give our readers a little more background about you and where you live. NT : I'm from Glasgow in Scotland. I was born and raised here. There's a brilliant music scene in Glasgow [and] Scotland, and I've been going to gigs since I was 15. Another one of my main influences are Biffy Clyro, who come from a town not too far from Glasgow. I first saw them play in a small pub in 1998, and now they're one of the biggest rock bands in the UK. Photo provided by artist MaM : Who all is involved in Caustic Waves? Just you? NT : It's just me! I'm a one-man band! For now, it's just a studio project, although I do miss playing live so I'm open to the idea of putting together a live band at some point in the future.I did have some guests on the EP: My brother-in-law Adrian McGurn (from the Irish traditional folk band Solás ) sang some harmonies on the ending section of ' Idiocracy .’ That part of the song is about the importance of education and investing in the next generation , so it felt appropriate, as Adrian is a teacher. He lived with us at the start of lockdown when schools were closed, and he home-schooled my two boys for a few months. It was during that time that I started recording the EP, and that's when we recorded his vocal tracks. There's also a cameo from my two boys, Jamie and Charlie , who helped me with some backing "woahs" in the middle section of ' Evolution '. To check out all that is Caustic Waves , hit the links below and be sure to check out Full Circle dropping on March 3, 2023! Linktree: https://linktr.ee/causticwaves Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5YFSnuEccV4gdfzlxKkdu9 Bandcamp: https://causticwaves.bandcamp.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/causticwaves YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@causticwaves Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/causticwaves Twitter: https://twitter.com/causticwaves TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@causticwaves *All photos provided by the artist 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

Extraordinary < Back Funny, Filthy, and Full of Superpowers Keeley Brooks Feb 17, 2023 Share Extraordinary In an age of urgency and digital content overload, sifting through available titles on different platforms searching for something new to watch can be super frustrating and time consuming. Lucky for you, I’m a bit of a content hooker and am here to kind of help narrow down some of those titles for you by bringing you some of my personal recommendations. This past weekend, while taking a breather from binge-watching MTV’s “Teen Wolf,” I decided to jump over to Hulu and see what’s up with one of their new shows, a comedy series called “Extraordinary.” And I’m glad I did, because I spent the next few hours bingeing season one, giggling, laughing out loud, and falling in love with everything about it. “Extraordinary” is British superhero comedy about a hopeful but desperate girl in her mid-20s adrift in a big ol' confusing world. She’s skating on thin ice at her retail gig, is sexually frustrated, and is anxious about the fact she doesn’t have much to show for her young-adult life thus far. Oh, and it takes place in a world where everyone gets a superpower on their 18th birthday. Some people can walk through walls (or over them). Other people can fly. Some people wear eye patches because their superpower is getting other people to tell the truth. Others have super-human strength or the ability to shapeshift or move through objects or teleport. There’s even a character known as “the jizz guy” simply because he holds the power to make any living being—even a cat—have an orgasm if he touches them at all, in any way. I’d really love to be able to gift you the scene of the cat having an orgasm because it’s hilarious, but I couldn’t find it online. I can tell you it’s in the beginning of episode two, though! So, everyone gets a superpower on their 18th birthday, except for our main character Jen; she’s been waiting for six years to find out what hers is. Her life and what that’s like for her is our main storyline, and it’s quite an entertaining one. Jen lives with her BFF Carrie and Carrie’s boyfriend, Kash. Carrie can channel dead people, and Kash can turn back time at least a few minutes, but he uses it to do shit like rewind time to make sure Jen doesn’t see him in a costume that says “SUPER COCK” on it. He also prefers to create a group of vigilantes over getting an actual job. Jen also has a cat named Jizzlord, who is actually a dude unable to figure out how to control when and where he takes on cat form. He’s been stuck in cat form for three years and as a result has forgotten a lot about human life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdtyxmTRABs The show has some pretty big laughs, some moments that are tender and sweet, and it offers up a unique take on the whole superpower thing. Having a superpower isn’t as big a deal in this world, and that sets up an entirely different vibe than most superhero content we’ve seen. The gag is that most people use their powers for dull, often selfish reasons. With an entirely English cast, “Extraordinary” is created by Emma Moran and season one has eight 30-40-minute episodes you can get lost in for a little while. Enjoy, my friends. *Quick side note: I also recommend getting into the “Teen Wolf” series. I have a thing for werewolves, and this one is really great, especially once you get past some of the young-adult stuff, and it boasts a great storyline, some pretty awesome werewolves that are cleverly designed, a good bit of blood and gore, and some super-cool fight scenes. The wolf fights are a-plenty! Plus, Dylan O’Brien of the “Mazerunner” movies is hysterical and absolutely perfect as Scott’s best friend Stiles. He’s a bit different from the Stiles most of us were introduced to in the 80s movie “Teen Wolf,” though. I haven’t seen him surfing on the top of any vans through the middle of town ... yet. Here, he's very smart and funny, especially with piecing things together and helping his cop dad solve different crimes. He’s very analytical. O’Brien also is reminiscent of the very funny Jim Carrey. Not only does he favor him in appearance, but he also favors Carrey in his ability to make people laugh. He adds a touch of levity to every single scene. You can find all six seasons streaming on Hulu and on Paramount Plus. Then, when you finish that, go watch the new "Teen Wolf" movie that released recently; it's streaming on Paramount Plus. You’re welcome. 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

Coming Soon! < Back Off the Charts Bud Gambrell Mar 17, 2023 Share Coming Soon! Hello to all! I hope you are here and curious about what Off The Charts is. Well, I’m going to attempt to explain what our goals here are. I am glad you’re here! My name is Bud Gambrell and I live in North Alabama. I am a published writer in several magazines and I have written a book, too. I also am a photographer who shoots mainly concerts big and small. In this maiden voyage of Off The Charts , I will attempt to lay out what you can expect from this column. What you will read here will be about bands that you may never have heard of from Alabama and the surrounding areas. That’s the point of the title. Off The Charts. The title embodies my goal. The bands included here are not on the charts, yet. I will be attempting to expose lesser-known acts with the hopes of you discovering new music that you enjoy. The articles that will periodically be posted here may include a concert review with pictures. Pictures are my favorite! The articles may also include interviews with any artists who are willing to sit down and have a talk. I may even branch out and attempt to get news out about new releases including singles and albums. Yes, I’m old school. I still call them albums. Listening to a new streaming release will be a good way to discover exactly what you are looking for. When I was first approached about starting this column, the intent was to focus on Outlaw Country. I thought, what a great idea! Then, as I thought more about it, I felt that there is so much more good music out there that deserves exposure. The genres that you can expect to read about will include Outlaw Country as well as good old Rock ‘N Roll. You will read about Southern Rock which is one of my favorites, too. We may even dive into some Blues. The point is to expose those hard-working men and women out there hustling to keep us entertained. One thing that you will not see here is critique. I am not a critic, so I’ll spare you reading about me pretending to be. I’m not here to criticize any musician. I’m here to help expose them and the wonderful work that they do. I’m a music lover. I’m a live music lover. Anyway, it almost seems that you would have to dislike music a little bit to sit back and pick someone’s art apart. Or you feel like you’re better at it than they are. Right? Another thing that you will not see here is major national recording bands. I would have to come up with another name. Remember, we are Off The Charts here. We don’t want to write about those bands. What could I say that hasn’t already been said and that you’ve read elsewhere? So, this section will inform you of your role in this column. Send me an email and tell me the bands that you love that may be lesser known. Maybe your favorite local band is releasing a new album soon. Tell me about it, so I can tell others. Maybe you are a musician that wants to spread the word about yourself or your band. You know the next line. Send me an email. We may even arrange an interview. When you stop by, grab yourself a cold beer. Grab that glass of wine. Grab whatever you indulge in to medicate your mind. Hopefully, I will turn you on to some new tunes that you can kick back and listen to and enjoy. Come happy and leave happier. Besides, we are all friends here. See you next time! Bud Bud Gambrell Photography ( bgambrellphotography.com ) Facebook To purchase my book, "Side Tracks Music Hall": https://a.co/d/a6lGy0O Questions or comments? E-mail me at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation < Back Disjunct: Technically Gifted Musicians Who Push Boundaries Nicole Brice Aug 23, 2023 Share Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation In a society where music has become synonymous with formulaic beats and predictable melodies, occasionally a band emerges to challenge the status quo. Disjunct, an up-and-coming experimental band that formed in 2021 as a jam project in Freetown, Louisiana, became more serious about their craft in April 2022 and began seriously writing and playing more live shows. The band consists of Brock Bonin (guitarist), Tony Struhldreher (drums), and Trent Hebert (bass). These guys recently played Rad Fest 2023 in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, and their set was nothing short of remarkable. As we watched guitarist Brock Bonin play last Saturday, MaM Lead Photographer Gary Governale and I both remarked, “Damn, that guy is good!” Credit: Gary Governale Disjunct is a band unafraid to experiment and push boundaries. Blending elements of psychedelia, progressive rock, djent, and jazz, their music defies categorization. Their ability to seamlessly merge different styles and genres results in a truly original sound that leaves a lasting impression on listeners. Disjunct refuses to be boxed in, constantly striving to transcend musical expectations, and with band influences ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Primus to Chon, the end result “is a culmination of our preferences that mesh together to form a new and unique sound,” says founding member Brock Bonin. Credit: Gary Governale When it comes to live performances, Disjunct draws the line in the sand. The band’s synergy cannot be missed because, like a fine-oiled machine, each member brings their unique flair. The passion with which Disjunct performs is an unforgettable experience. If you missed their set at Rad Fest, bummer—but rest assured these guys have much more on the horizon for the remainder of 2023 and beyond, and we’ve got a small snippet of their performance for you below. We were able to ask Brock a few questions about Disjunct, so check out a little Q & A and then stay tuned for more from these guys! https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_d92ed01f39994c248c47df31396eb27c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : I can’t seem to find any music for you on Bandcamp or Spotify. Where can I find your music? BB : We are actively working on putting together recorded music for our listeners. There is an EP dropping this fall, with new single releases to follow shortly after. MaM : Are there any notable shows you guys have played yet besides Rad Fest? BB : Disjunct preformed Marsfest as well as the Festival International after a party hosted by Artmosphere. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Who or what influences you to write music? BB : A large part of our writing process comes from the general idea that we want to stay original. Most of the music has been written from the ground up based on ideas that presented themselves organically during jam sessions. MaM : Where do you see the band headed in the future? BB : We have plans to grow together as a group and mature our music into a more cohesive sound. Things to look forward to are a heavier ambiance, extended-range guitars, and more technical proficiency all around. Disjunct is a band that is challenging conventions, turning heads, and offering a breath of fresh air to the local music scene. To learn more about Disjunct, visit them on social media via one of the links below. Instagram : Disjunct (@disjunctband) • Instagram photos and videos *Cover Photo - Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Nicole Brice just loves music. It doesn’t matter the type. Do you have something you think she should hear? Hit her up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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

Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. < Back Throttle Fest 2023: Southern Happenings Bud Gambrell Oct 24, 2023 Share Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. The announcement of Throttle Fest 2023 indicated the return of a huge music event that, since 2020, has brought joy to many people. Originally held at Sidetracks Music Hall in Huntsville, Ala., Throttle Fest is the brainchild of booking agent Shane Bickel. While Throttle Fest continued in 2021, the music event did not return in 2022 due to Sidetracks’ unfortunate closing. Luckily, opportunity struck this past summer when Bickel announced to adoring fans all across the South that Throttle Fest would be returning this October to Huntsville, now taking place at Rocket Republic . The lineup for Throttle Fest 2023 featured some of Southern rock's brightest rising stars —six bands originating from six different states. Hailing from Biloxi, Miss., newly formed hard rock band The Heavy Strides kicked off the event on Friday, Oct. 13, with their unique, signature sound known for marrying deep rhythmic grooves with searing guitars under the guidance of soulful lead vocals. The Heavy Strides promise an electric fusion of classic influences , including the likes of Led Zeppelin to Soundgarden, all wrapped up with a temporary edge. The Heavy Strides are Drew Fulton on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Josh Estes on bass, Cedric Feazell keepin' the beat on the drums, and Tyler Storms on loead guitar. Cedric Feazell of The Heavy Strides (credit: Bud Gambrell) Next up were The Josephines out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. These guys are always a crowd pleaser with their raw, rough-around-the-edges rock and roll that’s sure to have you dancing while you shed a tear or two. The Josephines—consisting of Brad Tabor (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin), Zach Lindsey (lead guitar, vocals), Alex Lindey (lead guitar, pedal steel, lap steel, vocals), and David Page (drums, percussion)—arrived with a different lineup this year, which included special guest guitarist Kyle Daniel. Kyle Daniel with The Josephines (credit: Bud Gambrell) Mixed Alternative Magazine was there and had a chance to talk to The Josephines’ lead singer Brad Tabor about how it feels to play Throttle Fest again. Says Brad, “It was awesome! We got to play with some new guys. We had a couple of players with us who don't normally go out with us, and they ripped it! And then, you know, the set sounded good to me, so people had fun and that's kind of the goal. I'm glad to be here for that reason. People got to enjoy themselves.” Brad Tabor of The Josephines (credit: Bud Gambrell) Closing out the first night was Them Dirty Roses from Gadsden, Alabama. This Southern rock band knows how to bend a string and break a heart Skynyrd-style. From the Alabama clay to Europe to festivals all across the United States, Them Dirty Roses are used to bringing the fireworks in their headlining abilities. The Throttle Fest crowd was treated to a bass solo from Ben Crain, a lead guitar solo from Andrew Davis, and a rousing drum solo from Frank Ford. Andrew Davis of Them Dirty Roses (credit: Bud Gambrell) After that set, Mixed Alternative pulled Them Dirty Roses lead singer James Ford aside to get his thoughts about Throttle Fest and being able to play in Huntsville again. “It does really feel good [to be back in Huntsville playing Throttle Fest],” Ford says, “because it [was] scary when Sidetracks went away. It was kind of like, ‘Damn, where are we gonna play now?’ We just didn't have a home in Huntsville anymore. And we've been doing it since 2018. So, I'm hoping this is the new place that's our new home in Huntsville. And I thought [the set] went great! … The crowd seemed to be into it.” Them Dirty Roses (credit: Bud Gambrell) Kicking the music off on Saturday, Oct. 14, was Southern soul/rock ‘n roll band One For The Road , who came straight out of “a small building back in the woods of Resaca,” in North Georgia. I have been hearing about this band from my good friend Todd Dean , an outstanding musician photographer who sat in with OFTR to sing Marshall Tucker’s “Can’t You See” . If you enjoy totally unadulterated Southern rock music , you have to look into this band. One For The Road features frontman and lead singer Zach Crumley, drummer Chris Webb, organ/piano player Joe Morgan, and bassist Jaithan Neal. Zach Crumley of One For The Road (credit: Bud Gambrell) Up next, and straight out of Little Rock, Ark., deFrance ’s rock ‘n roll style did a slammin’ job of setting the table for the classic rock sounds of Jive Mother Mary , from Burlington, N.C., who closed out the night. deFrance is cut straight from the roots of the best in Southern music , blending elements of true folk and country music with the classic songwriting styles of Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Ryan Adams into a fresh take on rock ‘n roll. I should also mention that deFrance travels in a church van. I think band leader Drew deFrance enjoys the reaction when the church bus pulls in to play at a rock club. Drew deFrance of deFrance (credit: Bud Gambrell) Jive Mother Mary, who headlined the second night, put on a damn good set, with several attendees mentioning that their Throttle Fest 2023 performance may have been the best JMM set they’ve seen. It comes down to this: Mason Keck and JMM never cease to amaze me at just how good of musicians they are. The word stunning comes to mind. When it was announced that they were coming back to Throttle Fest, I saw it as an opportunity to sit down and talk to Jive Mother Mary lead singer Mason Keck . In response to what Throttle Fest means to Keck as a performer, he says, “Man, Throttle Fest just kind of feels like a family reunion . Huntsville is a really cool little market for us. You know, we're from North Carolina originally and we kind of just had a core group of folks that really were supporting us strongly down in Huntsville. We played at Sidetracks a couple of times, then the first couple of Throttle Fests were there, and Huntsville was always a spot we could kind of count on as a good mood lifter, you know what I mean? The people that were going to be there were there to see [us] and that was an important part of it—always getting to see the folks that [come] out time and time again.” Jive Mother Mary (credit: Bud Gambrell) (In my best infomercial pitchman voice): But wait there’s more! Prior to Day 2 kicking off, Mixed Alternative also had the chance to talk to Throttle Fest organizer supreme , mastermind, genius, and promoter extraordinaire Shane Bickel . (If you can’t tell, we love Shane in Huntsville.) When asked what Throttle Fest means to him, Bickel replies, "It’s hardcore love for Southern rock music … just bringing a bunch of familiar faces together with some new faces and just creating a family atmosphere. All of the bands and the fans just get along so well. It's just, I don't know, something about it I like. It's a small version of a festival, but more like a family reunion with live music." In 2022, Throttle Fest didn’t happen due to the closing of Sidetracks Music Hall. This year, it was out of the blue when Bickel announced Throttle Fest 2023. We wanted to know what his plan was behind that, so we asked. "I miss y’all!" Bickel laughs. How else can we get everybody who used to support Sidetracks for most of the shows together? How can we get them all back in one room? Because so many people come from out of town, out of state. You have to put six of these bands together so you can get all different parts of the South to show up. And so far, we've done that: I think we had eight or nine different states show up [the first day]. So, it's pretty impressive that people still care about these bands and follow them . Most of these bands we won't be able to [accommodate] in a smaller setting or hopefully, they'll honor me with doing … Throttle Fest whenever we need to do it. " He continues, "It's like a family reunion, but these guys are going to move on to bigger and better stages. I mean, [we have to] enjoy it and embrace it while we can because a lot of these bands are going to be too big for us soon. [Everything has gone] really well. Everybody enjoys the new venue, so that is really comforting to hear positive feedback on that. So, all in all, [Throttle Fest 2023] has been a home run! " And I'd have to agree, especially when taking note of the festival's main theme, in addition to showcasing Southern music: family . Take it from someone who attended all three Throttle Fests: This is truly like a family reunion . There was also a phrase I heard repeated many times throughout the two-night event. I heard so many people tell someone else that they loved them, and in this day and age, where there is so much hate in the world, it was quite refreshing to see and hear. It is a shame that more people are not able to attend and share a loving, family-like experience one gets with Throttle Fest. For more information on Throttle Fest or any of the bands, follow their links and be sure to browse the gallery of images below! Throttle Fest Official Website The Josephines Official Website Them Dirty Roses Official Website Jive Mother Mary Official Website One For The Road Official Website The Heavy Strides Official Facebook deFrance Official 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 . Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Previous Next

Pacifico < Back The Importance of Self Care Keeley Brooks Nov 4, 2022 Share Pacifico Sometimes there are bands, and sometimes there’s a band with an artist who just makes you smile simply because he’s so authentic. Ladies, gents, and non-binary peoples, meet Matthew Schwartz—a man of many, many talents. I really don’t know where to begin with this guy. On top of being super humble and very kind, Schwartz is a man of many talents. He’s a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, podcast host, and, if I do say so myself, quite the poet. He is the band Pacifico, out of Atlanta, Georgia. If the name sounds somewhat familiar to you, it kind of should. Pacifico formed in 1999 and made some pretty big career marks through the mid-2000s by being lucky enough to have their songs featured in movies ( Wish for Christmas ), on TV shows ( Now What? , Sausage Factory ), in video games (“Rock Band Download”), and on the radio. After seeing some success full of label showcases, touring, and, as Matthew puts it, “a failed attempt to move to California,” the band needed a break and amicably parted ways. That’s when Pacifico the group became Pacifico the one-man band. Mostly. Matthew enjoys collaborating with other musicians on his albums. “I LOVE to collaborate with people. I think it only helps to make the music better,” says Schwartz. “For the new album, I collaborated with Shane Tutmarc of Dolour, Peter Randall—bass player for Adele, Matt Bowers of House Of Fools, Ben Herrington of Minos The Saint, Matt Tuttle of Codeseven, and the famous producer Aaron Sprinkle.” I was lucky enough to get to rap with Matthew about Pacifico and his upcoming album, "Self Care". KB : So, Matthew, was this your dream as a kid, or did it just sort of develop? MS : Like most kids my dreams changed often. First, I wanted to be in the army, or a police officer, then it was a baseball player. It wasn’t until I was about 14 that I realized I had musical talent and wanted to be a musician. There have been many times in my adult life, though, that I have also considered being a teacher, a comedian, or a writer. (In a round-about way, Matthew, you are, Dude. You are.) KB : You’re a multi-instrumentalist. Tell us what instruments you play and what the first one was you learned to play, then what followed. MS : My first instrument was piano. I used to make up songs and then my parents got me lessons. Trumpet was my second instrument. I played in symphonic and marching band. Then I learned the guitar and never looked back. From there it just grew. I can play a little bit of almost every instrument, but I’m not really great at any of them. KB : I’ve heard your music. With all due respect, that’s a lie. (laughs) So how’d the name Pacifico originate, anyway? MS : Joel (friend and former drummer) and I were driving around in his truck trying to think of a cool band name that would represent the music we were creating. We thought about how Radiohead took their name from a Talking Heads’ song and so thought about one of our favorite bands, Starflyer 59. Couldn’t think of a name that related to them that we liked but their drummer had just put out an album by his side project, The Lassie Foundation, called Pacifico. We liked that it meant peaceful and we liked that it made us think of the West Coast and the Pacific, so we took it. We later found out they were inspired by the beer, which we incidentally have been sponsored by before too. KB : That’s amazing. I understand you have three albums out (“Thin Skin and an Open Heart”, “Without Heroes”, “Everest”) with a fourth on the way. Tell us about these and where you drew your inspiration. MS : [My fourth album] "Self Care" is due out February 10th, 2023. Each album has been a snapshot of where I was and [is] focused around a central theme. “Thin Skin and an Open Heart” was recorded in CA with one of my heroes, Jason Martin of Starflyer 59. The songs were mostly written around different issues my friends were going through at the time, with some of my life and experiences thrown in. “Without Heroes” is the first Pacifico album I produced and its songs were all centered around the heroes I had in my life, as well as the lack of heroes I was seeing in our world. “Everest” was my attempt to challenge myself and our listeners by creating more complex lyrics and music that was wrapped in confectious melodies in hopes people wouldn’t notice. The new album "Self Care" deals with different ways to look at mental health and self-care from self-motivation, to encouraging others, drawing healthy boundaries, and more. KB : As an author who openly writes about my own mental health struggles, you don’t know how happy that makes me to hear. Speaking of the upcoming album, aptly titled "Self Care," you went through some shit with this one. I know your soul is in it. Tell us how this album came to be, "and why it's called "Self Care." MS : It started from an apparent failed attempt to quit music. I was looking through old demos and realizing I had several really great songs and ideas that needed to be finished and released. I came into the beginning of this process thinking this might be my last album. Right before I started this project I had moved back to Georgia and in the process realized I had some trauma I needed to work through, then my eldest brother passed, and we had a pandemic. I decided I needed help, I got a therapist and I guess a lot of my work ended up in this album. When looking through the themes on the album, I thought no other name would aptly sum up what [it’s] about, self-care. KB : There’s currently a new single out now called “Don’t Play Dead.” Tell me about that. MS : When compiling the songs for "Self Care," I was going through all my demos and ideas. I came across this chord structure that I liked but previously couldn't create anything with. For some reason, after several tries with no luck, I was finally inspired. At that time, my wife was overcome with anxiety and depression, so much so that she felt defeated and had become immobile. I wanted nothing more than to give her comfort and take away her pain. Writing this song was the least I could do. Just like that, the words and melody came to me and the song basically wrote itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGQ5OhOQH64 KB : What's your intention with "Self Care?" What do you want people to know? MS : I don’t know if there is an intention per se, but I do want people to know that they matter, and that they are not alone. We all have something going on. Give yourself love and grace, and then extend that same love and grace to others. KB : It’s heavily apparent your music is not just music. This is you, your thoughts, your feelings, your energy, your emotions. And as listeners, I think people can’t help but feel your emotion and intention behind each song. Even in the way you play your instruments. How has that carried you along the way through any difficult or trying times? I’m sure it has been very cathartic and healing. MS : You are correct. My music is very much a part of me and the relationship I have had with music and the music business has been nothing less than challenging. It's always very cathartic and healing to finish a song and/or recording but releasing the music is much more complex. When I finally release a song or an album it's like putting your child in a beauty contest. I know I think it's beautiful and without flaws, but it's no longer up to me. It's hard to just let them go and see if people connect and what they think. At that point they are no longer my songs, they are everyone's. The way they come to me, I wonder if they ever were mine to begin with. No matter what, I almost always get some sort of postpartum depression. KB : I can relate to that for sure. Have you had any major epiphanies that’ve come to you while writing or recording? MS : Trust your gut, follow your heart, run ideas by people you trust, be open to criticism, never settle for less than you want, and always be open to experimentation and improvising. KB : I understand you also host a podcast called Moontraveling. What’s that about? MS : I was lucky enough to become friends with one of my heroes and mentors, [producer] Aaron Sprinkle. It was started as a platform for him to tell stories and talk about all the amazing albums he’s done and although we do talk about those things, it really has become a podcast about music, and life. We talk about anything that affects us both: deconstruction, love, life, our interests, music, friendships, and more. KB : Any current shows right now? If not, when will you be back on stage? MS : I just lost my booking agent (if anyone is a booking agent please let me know!). I would love to be on the road! I also don’t currently have a band [to go out and play shows with], so if you are in the Atlanta area and like my music, hit me up. Otherwise, I am working on some sort of album release party in February, and I will be playing some online shows here and there. [People can] follow me on social [media] or sign my mailing list so [they] don’t miss any announcements. So, my dear readers, now you can go like and follow and sign up for Matthew’s/Pacifico’s mailing list. You can find him at www.PacificoRock.com and https://linktr.ee/pacificorock will take you guys to everything. Pacifico (@pacificorock) • Instagram photos and videos Profile / Twitter Facebook YouTube Pacifico | Spotify Stream Pacificorock music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud ‎4.11.15 - Single by Pacifico on Apple Music *Photo cred: Mike Dunn, provided by Matthew Schwartz * 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 LA Phantoms have the strength and will to create music that resonates. < Back The LA Phantoms: A Louisiana Punk Band with a Rich History Nicole Brice Nov 4, 2024 Share The LA Phantoms have the strength and will to create music that resonates. The LA Phantoms , a Louisiana punk band, has a rich history of resilience and readiness to face any challenge. Since the early 2000s , the band has seen many line-up changes and iterations, but their strength and determination to create music that resonates with their audience have never wavered. We are thrilled to share their story with you. Credit: Gary Governale Formed in the early 90s under the name Mystic Fix , the LA Phantoms are a homegrown band originally from Ville Platte that moved to Lafayette, Louisiana . There, they underwent numerous line-up changes due to member deaths and other tragic circumstances, but they never stopped. With even more changes since then, The LA Phantoms have emerged today through these trials and tribulations, ready to conquer the musical landscape. Today, the band is fronted by Cutty and Mac , who share vocal duties. Cutty , who also plays bass, Mac on drums, and Jaysun Birdman on guitar round out all the band duties. Sometimes, they'll invite other musicians on stage with them, too, because it is all about the music. This trio is brimming with anticipation for the new era of punk rock they are about to be a part of, with new music set to be released in 2025, and we cannot wait. I had the absolute pleasure of hearing this new music, and I can assure you, it's something to look forward to. A vast range of influences have solidified the LA Phantoms ' tight sound, and they are dedicated and determined to leave their mark on music history. To describe the LA Phantoms ' music, it is good, solid punk rock. There is no fluff, no frills, just straight-up enjoyable punk rock. The LA Phantoms , a trio of humble yet immensely talented musicians, embody a relentless drive and determination to push the boundaries of their craft. Their unwavering commitment to their music is admirable, and we eagerly anticipate what the future holds for them. Mixed Alternative Magazine had the privilege of engaging in a profound conversation with the LA Phantoms , and their love and dedication to their craft was genuinely inspiring. Read on to learn more about their journey. MaM : Let’s dive into your band history. Tell us a bit about how you got started and where. Mac : This band was an incarnation that spawned from another band. A punk band was called Mystic Fix . Mystic Fix was formed in the early 90s , around 1994 , in Ville Platte , Louisiana , by our brother, Chris . It was Chris and James , and another guy named Timmy on drums, who is my brother-in-law now, so then they moved from Ville Platte to Lafayette , and the other guys from Ville Platte fell off, and Chris continued with us with a different line-up. The line-up fluctuated between various people until it ended up being me, Cutty , Chris , and Luke Duke . We played a few shows with that line-up, but Chris wanted to play more rock n roll, and he was discovering bands like Nashville Pussy and Speedealer – a lot of Southern rock stuff. Mac Black by Gary Governale Eventually, he told me he didn’t want to go on with the name Mystic Fix anymore. He then said he wanted to start another band with more of a rock n roll approach because he thought it would give us more gigs across the country. He didn’t want to be pigeonholed into the whole punk rock scene. Fewer dive bars and bigger, more prominent venues. This all happened about 2001 , and that was when we officially started The LA Phantoms . It was me , Chris , and Luke Duke ( Choke ). We wrote and recorded an album and put it out. Luke lived in Lake Charles , and Chris lived in Lafayette . Luke eventually fell out because he couldn’t commute from Lake Charles to Lafayette to rehearse. We ended up getting another guy, Damien Miller . Damien was the bass player for that run of LA Phantoms and passed away in 2007. That run of The Phantoms went from 2001-2005 . Also, Creosote Jones from Cheater Pipe played with us for a few years and helped write many songs with us. Credit: Gary Governale Cutty : We also had a harmonica player. He did lead harmonica solos. MaM : Man, I’d be curious to see how that fits in with your sound. Mac : We have a link to it. We can send it to you. MaM : Yes. Please send me the link. Cutty : It gave it kind of a blues edge. It worked with the formula. It was kind of like the song “ Electric Worry ” by Clutch . They have harmonica on that song. MaM : So how did you get to the band's current incarnation? Mac : Chris died. MaM : Oh wow … Mac : In 2005 , my wife Jessica was terminal, so I had to quit the band because I couldn’t really play shows or go anywhere. We had been gigging everywhere from Austin to New Orleans , and I couldn’t go on the road because my wife needed me. Mac Black by Gary Governale MaM : I’m so sorry, man. I understand. Mac : I quit the band, and Chris started Mystic Fix back up with some other guys in Ville Platte . He started having trouble with his drummer because of his lack of interest. After my wife passed away, he asked me to join the band because he had recently signed up with a local label in Carencro . Chris gave me a cassette of the songs he planned to record, and I learned all the songs. The last show was at a skate park in Lafayette , and I got on stage to sing with them. This was June 10, 2007 . On the next day, June 11th , Chris passed away, and then I found out on my birthday, June 12th , that he passed. We were devastated by this. To help with his funeral expenses, they asked me to put together a band to gig and help make money to pay for his funeral. I told them we would learn all the songs Chris had created. Chris’ girlfriend sang for us, and we raised a few thousand dollars and were able to bury him. Chris’ girlfriend later became my wife. Her name is Julie Jab . Then there was this guy named Shane , who played bass briefly. He was like the Sid Vicious of Lafayette—a lot of stage presence. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Then what? Mac : We got Cutty . Me and Cutty had played in Mystic Fix , and he was with us when we were writing the early songs with LA Phantoms , and he came back once we got rid of Shane . Then we gigged like that till my wife had a heart operation. She had a valve replacement. She couldn’t continue with us. Then I started a band called Black Feratu , with my friend James Feratu . That was metal , and we did it for a few years. Then, the original guitarist for Mystic Fix was on his deathbed and was not doing well. He decided he wanted to play another run of shows, so he and Luke went with Cutty and I , and we started doing Mystic Fix songs. Still, we decided to do some LA Phantoms songs, too, but then James got on the stage one night, and he could only do half a song, and he was on a tank of oxygen and just couldn’t do it anymore. Cutty by Gary Governale MaM : Wow, bless his heart. Cutty : Yeah, his last performance was in Lafayette at The Boom Boom Room . He was convinced he could stand up and play the songs. We tried to persuade him to sit down, but he stood up like a soldier and tried to troop through the song. Unfortunately, he did pass out, which was James ’ last performance on stage. MaM : To me, that is badass because that shows his dedication to music. Cutty : One of the toughest MF’ers to get on stage. MaM : I admire people like that, man. Those are the actual soldiers. Mac : That’s right. Till we die, we don’t stop. Cutty : Unfortunately, he did. MaM : You all have an interesting story. Mac : Tragedy at every step. Cutty : Today, we are coming to you for this interview from the slab that used to be Changes . Mystic Fix was pretty much the house band at Changes . Love it or hate it, but if this slab could tell stories, we could write an incredible book. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Reminds me of the Dischord House and how well-known it is. Cutty : The sacred slab. Mac : Until it burned down. MaM : You’re back to where it all began, and it is fortunate that we are doing this interview today. Brings back all full circle. Let’s get into the music. Your music blows me away, and I can’t wait to market it. When are you planning to release the songs you sent me? Mac : We just finished mastering them and got the final footage for the video we are putting together of ‘ Slow What .’ The plan is to release everything simultaneously on all platforms, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwAHWhD1e1g MaM : I think that sounds great. It's punk rock meets melodic thrash punk. It has a unique sound. I love the heavy bass on ‘ Slow What ,’ when the guitar comes in, it’s strong as hell, man, and that whole song takes off. It reminds me of The Melvins meets Tad . That’s the first vibe I got. With ‘Tight Grip,’ that song is aggressive out the gate, and then ‘Vampire,’ has that whole Van Halen ‘ Hot for Teacher ’ vibe. What inspired you to come up with your sound on these tracks? That is the LA Phantoms sound. Mac : It’s just all our influences. I wouldn’t say I like being put in a box. Cutty : A broad spectrum or prism. Without it, you’ll be limited and boring. We try to expand as much as we can. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Who are your influences then? Cutty : The Misfits , Social Distortion , Slayer , Corrosion of Conformity Mac : James Brown , Taj Mahal , Sly and the Family Stone . Cutty : We also have another element of the music you haven’t heard yet. It’s more funk and blues. It's like Minutemen meets Sly and the Family Stone . We also have a small catalog of that. MaM : I can’t wait to hear that! You guys are talented as hell. Let’s do this. What is your ultimate goal as a band, and what are you looking to accomplish with your music? Mac : Our short-term goal is to release this music and expand our range of gigs. We have only been playing mainly in Lafayette and Lake Charles . We want to play Metairie and New Orleans more, maybe even Texas . In the long term, I’d love to tour Europe . My friends do this already, so I feel it’s achievable. Jaysun Birdman by Gary Governale MaM : Let’s make this happen. What is about music that makes you passionate? Cutty : It’s a release. You can have all these problems – weights and burdens on your back, and when I pick up my instrument, everything starts coming together. Even if it’s just 15 minutes or two hours, it makes everything okay. Jason : The creativity and playing live. There’s nothing else like it. I love the camaraderie we have. We played a show with Choke recently. They are awesome guys. Super cool. I love hanging out with everyone because we have so much in common, and everyone is so supportive of each other. Mac : Music sets me free and connects me to the universe. It connects with all is one, and one is all when I play music. It’s flow. It puts you in this flow state. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : They say music is medicine, and the Chinese symbol for medicine is like music. Tell me about the worst show you’ve put on so far, and then tell me about a good show you played. Cutty : I can’t focus on a bad show because it broadens the human horizon even if we mess up. We’re all people. It’s like a joke. If you trip, are you going to laugh with the crowd, or are you going to get laughed at, pissed off, and make an entire burden about it? You don’t do that. It would be best to roll with the punches because even a horror show is still a show. We’re out. We’re playing music. We’re having a good time, and we try to make the best out of it. That’s about it. As far as the best one? With these two guys, it’s always good. Mac : I’d have to say the last show or the ones going on right now are the best ones. The worst show I’ve ever shown is when there is violence at the show. Someone would be throwing bottles at us, or someone would come into the club with a gun or just incidences like that. Just don’t stop playing unless we have to chase someone out. Cutty : Now, if we got hit with a bottle, we’d have to beat the piss out of them. (laughter) Cutty : It’s just expected. (laughter) Mac : Well, the time with the gun, we didn’t stop playing. They walked in with the gun, pointed it at someone, and that was it. Credit: Gary Governale (laughter) MaM: If you could share the stage with anyone in the future, like your dream show, who would you pick, and why? Cutty : I would say opening for The Misfits and Suicidal Tendencies. That would be the perfect show for me. Mac : I have to concur. MaM : In the next five years, where would you like to be as a band? Mac : Touring Europe and playing big festivals. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : If someone approached you and asked you to describe your music to them, how would you sell it to them? Mac : Gangster Punk Rock n Roll (laughter) Cutty : I like that one. What was the phrase you wanted to put on shirts? Mac : Vampire bank robbers from outer space (laughter) MaM : Last question – how does music inspire you daily? Mac : To get up in the morning and face the world. Motivation to work out and live life. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Same Cutty : Adrenaline and therapy – when you combine the two, that can also have a positive effect, and for us three, it works. MaM : Oh yeah, 100%. Jaysun : It helps me grow. I like to learn new stuff. I’m a student of the game. As The LA Phantoms prepare to embark on a new year with new music, they will undoubtedly begin to build a following. Stay tuned for much more from this trio. To learn more about LA Phantoms : Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559706162429 *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

Them Guys have a sound embodying Louisiana music's rich, genre-bending spirit. < Back Them Guys: A Deep Dive into Louisiana’s Musical Treasures Nicole Brice Oct 3, 2024 Share Them Guys have a sound embodying Louisiana music's rich, genre-bending spirit. Louisiana, synonymous with the vibrant sounds of jazz, blues, and zydeco, has long been a fertile ground for emerging musicians. One such gem in its musical tapestry currently is Them Guys , a band from Vacherie, Louisiana, that has carved out its niche in the Bayou State’s eclectic scene by consistently getting its brand out there with a busy schedule of non-stop shows all along the Gulf coast. Formed five years ago, Them Guys started when various members were growing tired of the cover band music scene. The desire to create an original and definitive sound led the lifelong friends to join forces, and that union has given birth to a band with a consistent vision of where they want to go and what they want to accomplish. Credit: Gary Governale With too many musical influences to count, the Them Guys sound combines each member’s distinct style for a well-rounded listening experience that defies categorization. They’re not nu-metal , but they sound like metal at times. They’re not just straight rock ; there’s some melodic thrash there, too. How do you categorize the sound of Them Guy’s music? You can’t. It’s just a combination of all things that makes their music enjoyable, and their sound embodies the rich, genre-bending spirit of Louisiana music. Them Guys is Chet Tabor on drums, John Waguespack on bass, Benjamin Kliebert on lead guitar, and Nick Oubre on lead vocals/rhythm guitar. In just five short years, these multi-talented and multi-faceted individuals have released three albums that showcase the band’s collaborative evolution from inception to now, culminating in the definitive Them Guys sound with the aid of friend and producer Ross Johnson. Ross is just as important to Them Guys as the members themselves because, without Ross, Them Guys' live show experiences would not be as phenomenal as they are currently. With Ross behind them, Them Guys not only have consistency with each performance in terms of sound, lights, mixing, etc., but they have a secret weapon for putting on the best performance imaginable no matter what venue they step into. Humble, focused, and determined, Mixed Alternative Magazine recently sat down and chatted at length with the men of Them Guys about their beginnings, visions for the future, and more. No topic was off-limits. Them Guys are a beacon of hope for the Louisiana music scene because of their dedication, enthusiasm, and readiness to help all succeed. They bring a product. Not just the music. Read on below. MaM : Thanks for meeting with us today. Let’s start with a bit of band history for those not familiar. Tell us about how Them Guys came together initially. Chet : In July 2019, we came together as Them Guys but weren’t named yet. We actually started as a Chevelle tribute band. John : Nick and I were in another band together but didn’t have a name yet. We were working with another guy, and things fell apart, so Nick was the one who suggested we start a Chevelle cover band. We only wanted to do it if Chet played drums, though. Chet was in, so we got together and jammed, and that was it. We became a Chevelle cover band. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Interesting. Why Chevelle? Nick : I don’t know. (laughs) Chet : He’s a big fan of Chevelle (points to Nick). They’re not my favorite, but I respect their music. The idea is that it’s not complicated to play, and you can quickly come up with ten or twelve hits to put on a setlist. Everyone knows the songs, too. It was also easy to intertwine some non-Chevelle covers because they fit the bill. We were 100% covers starting out. MaM : People always make fun of me because I’m not a fan of Chevelle, but their music doesn’t do anything for me. It just sounds basic. I respect them as musicians, but that’s about it. Chet : That was part of that mainstream sound at that time. One of the things we’re looking to do going forward is not necessarily to capitalize on any mainstream sound. Still, the music can be generic enough for the vast majority to enjoy. Take, for example, a band like Korn ; you must like Korn to listen to Korn. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Yeah, they have always had a distinct sound. Chet : I think Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin , and bands like that have cornered the market to attract the most listeners. They make great music with a significant following. We intertwine with so many bands and do it intentionally … She Might Be a Beast , Silverdose , Drab , This Beating Heart , Branded for Exile , and we play with these bands purposely. It’s all part of the elevation process. The better we do, the better those bands do. We feel like this Louisiana music scene is astronomically better than most, and that even includes the Gulf Coast. Many of these bands don’t get the acknowledgment they deserve either, but we will keep putting the work in and try to lift others in the process. John : There wasn't that camaraderie when I first started playing music. Some thought they were better than others. It was cutthroat. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Tell me a little about each of you. How did you get into music initially? Nick : I started as a drummer and was playing in three bands. One day, I decided I didn’t want to be a drummer anymore. We all grew up with each other, so that’s how we know each other. Chet : Yeah, Nick has the most unique story because he’s the best drummer in the band, by far. MaM : But he doesn’t want to play drums. John : My story intertwines with all of this. Chet : It’s been this exciting path because I came in with over 25 years of experience. Not necessarily playing live, but the experience. I’ve always been a drummer, though, and I can remember being on stage with John, and his voice went out, so I moved him out of the way to take over on vocals. I sang ‘ Simple Man’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd the first time I did it. Nick, though, by far is the most talented drummer in this band, but it doesn’t stop there … he plays guitar and bass and even sings. Nick Oubre by Gary Governale MaM : He’s a one-man band. Chet : Most of Them Guys' music is Nick’s guitar riffs. He writes 90% of the guitar riffs. Ben : … and I know I have a microphone in front of me all the time, but I can’t do public speaking. (laughter) John : I started playing in 2013 when I was taking guitar lessons. The guy I was taking lessons from needed a bass player and asked me if I wanted to. I was thinking, ‘Ain’t nobody wants to play bass.’ (laughter) John : He tells me that Chet has a bass at his house, and we’ll ride over to get it. He gave me four songs to learn, so I called him the next day and told him I had learned them. He didn’t believe me, so I went to his house to show him I had learned the songs. Once he realized I did know them, he gave me four more to learn. The next night, I learned those four songs, too. He then called Chet to tell him he had found a bass player. We went to Chet’s house, and he was on drums, but we ended up playing all eight songs, and then that was that. We ended up learning 40 songs in total. Ben : What band was that? John : Super Nutria was the name of the band. Chet : Funny story: I wasn’t even supposed to be in the band, but here I was, deciding on the bass player. (laughter) Nick : I was too young to play live yet. John : We did that for about three years, and then I quit the band. They played for a few more years, but then it died out. Chet : That was my decision. We were active and always playing shows, but it was time to move on. John : So, the guitar player from Super Nutria and I decided to continue playing music together under the name Soldiers of Ana – which is short for Louisiana, so technically, Soldiers of Louisiana. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : I love that name. That’s very clever. John : Nick has a tattoo of the band name on his leg actually. (Nick points to the tattoo on his leg) John : We ended up calling up Nick, who was going to play the drums, but we needed a singer. Nick said he would sing, but I only thought he played drums. So, we have this little, tiny amp, and I just plugged in the microphone straight into the amp with a background song playing on my phone. I had him sing to that to see if he could, and he did, and it was incredible. It was a Judas Priest song he sang. MaM : Which song? Nick : ‘ Painkiller ’ – it was when I still had my falsetto singing voice. John : He sings this song, and I’m just blown away. We started as a three-piece band and learned a 40-song set to only play one show together for his dad’s birthday. It just fell apart. After that band fell apart, we decided to start another band, and once again, it was covering songs. Slayer , Metallica , Black Sabbath , Chevelle , Pink Floyd … Ben : Yeah, it was a diverse list. John : It was a crazy list. Before we got active in the scene playing, I had some personal stuff come up, so that band ended. I ended up selling all my equipment after that. Nick was the one who bought a good bit of it, and then a co-worker of mine bought all my bass stuff. Ben : We grew up together and have been friends forever, with the music being secondary. Initially, I took on the role of lighting tech for the band. Eventually, the band had some issues arise, and we needed a guitar player. I’ve been playing guitar my whole life. I knew the music. I knew the guys. It was a perfect fit. We didn’t skip a beat, either. Benjamin Kliebert by Gary Governale MaM : Where did the name for the band come from? Ben : Well, it was either that or free beer. (laughter) Chet : We used a few names, but before transitioning to the original material, Brittany drew a picture of Louisiana with a voodoo doll … John : … and at the top it said Them Guys. Ben : Once we saw the image on the shirt, that was it. John : … and you can’t forget it. Like, we saw Them Guys the other night. MaM : It’s the perfect name. The logo, too, is impressive. Chet : That’s about to change, but we plan to rebrand or slightly revamp. That original logo with the state of Louisiana picture and then the voodoo doll is, by far, our most popular design to date. We haven’t sold that shirt in three years, either. John : Everyone still asks for it because they like having the Louisiana logo there. Chet Tabor by Gary Governale MaM : Let’s talk performances. Tell me about your best and worst shows so far. Ben : We haven’t played our best show yet. Chet : I can’t say that. We’ve had some good ones, though. In my opinion, the best show so far was Jeff’s benefit at the fairgrounds. There were 500-600 people there. There was even a rainstorm that came through. It looked like a Creed music video. (laughter) Chet : It was a rough show – a sea of heads. They loved it, though. John : This brutal thunderstorm started blowing all the lights down. It pushed Nick’s guitar off the stand, breaking the head. Everyone was getting soaking wet, but no one left. Everyone stayed and rocked out. Chet : That’s one of two. The second-best performance, though, was the Hometown Throwdown. Experience-wise, it was the show at Zina’s Place in Thibodaux . We rolled up four hours before showtime and thought it would be a challenging show. It turned out to be a packed house, and we were asked to play songs we had never played before, which we were cool with. There were 130-140 people, and it was just a great time all around . Now, the Hometown Throwdown was on a different level. It was one of the most professional productions, and we did everything ourselves, from the production to the lights. We had 590 tickets sold, but in a venue that houses 3,000 people. It could have been better, but the performance was insane. It was an experience. Ben : Everyone had a great time. John : We even catered food and drinks for the bands. Everyone was taken care of. Ben : Worst show? Chet : The worst show was at Southport Hall with 4 Mag Nitrous . It had a great line-up, but no one showed up. Ben : Like eight people showed up. Chet : Yeah, that was two years ago, and then coincidentally, the next night, we had a great show in Texas and ended up in a magazine and on the news because of the show. Friday night was a bad show. Saturday night, holy shit. John Waguespack by Gary Governale MaM : You all have different music influences. Who would you say helped to influence the Them Guys sound? Chet : We have three or four consistent across the board – Black Sabbath and Alice in Chains are a couple. I love Nonpoint . I also like Limp Bizkit and Godsmack , too. Sevendust , too. Nick and John’s G.O.A.T. is Black Sabbath. Ben’s is Megadeth . Ben : Yeah, definitely Megadeth. Chet : When you step back and truly listen to our music, you can hear the influences of Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, and even some Godsmack in the beginning. There’s even a little Breaking Benjamin style there. We have established the Them Guys sound now and don’t focus on who we sound like. We had to find it, and now we have it. Our philosophy is to one-up ourselves and be better each time. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Man, ya’ll have the right formula. If you guys could share the stage with any band or musician in the future, who would it be? Ben: Megadeth (lots of discussion) John : They’re all dead. (laughter) Chet : Realistic level— Nonpoint . We’ve met the band and worked with them before. They are great to work with, and we would love to share the stage with them. They wore one of our shirts on stage at a show, too. It was one of the last shows on their tour. John : We threw a shirt at them. The drummer caught our shirt in his chest. He walked backstage after that, switched to our shirt, and played the rest of the show wearing it. Photo courtesy of Chet Tabor MaM : That’s so awesome. You can’t get better exposure than a t-shirt. It's the best branding ever. Where do you see the band headed in the next five years? Any new music? Chet: We believe the production quality is as important as the music, so we’re doing a big push on ‘ Delusions .’ Moving forward, we will continue to record with Ross so it can be the best product ever. We have about six or seven songs that are written. A couple are recorded. We have a Jelly Roll cover, too. I can’t wait to record it either because it’s perfect. John : It’s got our style. Our elements. Chet : The bigger picture is that we want to jam. It's as simple as that. We are also in this to elevate. We see the path forward and want to continue it. With a solid discography and an ever-growing fanbase, the future looks bright for Them Guys. They continue to play shows extensively, bringing their unique blend of rock music to new audiences. As they look forward to the next chapter, it’s clear that Them Guys are more than just a band – they’re torchbearers of Louisiana’s rich musical heritage, keeping its traditions alive while pushing the boundaries of what it means to make original rock music in the 21st century. To experience Them Guys' music for yourself, just hit one of the links below. themguysofficial.com THEM GUYS Official Band Page Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEMGUYSOFFICIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/them_guysofficial/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThemGuysOfficial2019 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 . 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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

Stella Vir are progressive-infused sounds full of spatial concepts < Back Stella Vir: A Modern Ambient Rock Abyss Je'an-Paul Keller Aug 8, 2023 Share Stella Vir are progressive-infused sounds full of spatial concepts Coming up August 19, 2023, Louisiana’s own Stella Vir is set to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. With tunes full of howling guitars and crisp clean vocals, this band hails from Hessmer, LA and they are the third band in our installment of interviews with all acts on the bill. The band was formed in 2019 by Josh Ferguson (vocals), Justin Theriot (lead guitar), Waylon Wilkinson (bass), and Shane Landry (drums). Gaining a following on the local scene due to their energetic performances and catchy, melodic songs, Stella Vir’s debut EP “Meridian”, released in 2020, is so good that you’ll want to turn the dial all the way up to eleven to engross yourself in the soothing sounds. And if you have an iPod handy, pop in those headphones and disappear into the abyss. Credit: Ahnvee Photography In 2022, the guys released their follow-up EP “City Lights”, continuing the band’s evolution with a more mature sound and showcasing more complex songwriting. With songs such as “Getaway” and “Full Speed” that provide ferocious guitar licks, Stella Vir is quickly solidifying itself as one of the most promising of all the up-and-coming rock bands coming out of Louisiana. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHJVthKtAVA Each member feeds off their own unique styles and the band has managed to find a cohesive sound that is distinct and one all their own. The band has the talent, the drive, and the sound to make it big and with their continued touring, Stella Vir is sure to become one of the most popular rock bands in the country. You must see them live to experience their sound in all its depth, truly. With a love for all things sci-fi, I was able to chat recently with Josh Ferguson, the lead vox, about everything from the band’s name to how their unique sound is achieved and his love of everything sci-fi related. Geek out with us and get lost in space by learning a bit more about what makes up the band known as Stella Vir. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiK3Zq57YTU MaM : I dig your music. Who or what inspired your current sound? JF : So, I've been I've been playing music for about 20 years, and in the late 90s/ early 2000s. There is just something about the grunge era and when emo came out. Post-hardcore bands as well, such as Finch and Thursday … I really got into all of those styles of music. My writing style has always been somewhat of an emo-derived kind of sound. It's just a blend of all kinds of music that makes us what we are. MaM : With so much going on in the world, what influences you to make music? JF : It's kind of like a sickness. I had quit playing music about five times now, but I wake up some mornings with just ideas in my head. I feel like I can't do anything without writing these ideas down, and the next thing I know … I'm writing music in a band again. It's just been in me, and my guitarist. We've been writing music together for 20 years, and it's just something we can never shake off. MaM : Can you tell our readers how your band initially came about? JF : I went on tour with a band, and then when that tour finished up … I decided to be a husband, and a dad, and not really play music anymore. My guitarist from over 20 years ago … [He] and I started talking again. We decided to do something different. So rather than trying to write music that we thought people would like or would get people to go to shows, we decided to start writing stuff that we would wanna listen to, and that's where we ended up. The first song we wrote together is on our ‘Meridian’ EP! It is called ‘With Fire Comes Truth’. It's one of the most fun songs that we have to play. It's just about not caring what anybody else says [with the message to] just burn the world down if you must … TO BE HAPPY! Credit: Ahnvee Photography MaM : Love the name of the band. How did it come about? JF : So, Stella Vir! At first, we had decided on the name Meridian for the band. In the process of uploading our music to social media … We realized that there [were] 63 bands named Meridian at that time. Obviously, we can't go this route if we want anybody to find us. We spent a couple of days trying to think of something that would be original, and my buddy Justin, [who] plays guitar, mentioned Stella Vir, which in Latin is roughly translated to Man of the Stars. We are all just really into space-related themes. We were all in love with it as soon as he said it, and we never looked back. It's just the idea of extra-terrestrial beings in space looking down on us, and the planet Earth. That's the kind of vibe that we make all our artwork around and our merch. I absolutely love the space theme. I can't get enough of it. MaM : So, growing up? What sci-fi movies or series played a huge role in developing the concept for the band? JF : I'm a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy . I'm a huge fan of Star Wars . We are all fanboys of Star Wars . I also listen to a lot of podcasts that are sci-fi based, fiction, and non-fiction. Whatever I can find, I eat it up. I remember going to the NASA space center when I was a kid, and I really got into the whole idea of space. So, anything I come across, I'm just a huge fan. MaM : Are there any specific things that you like to use to achieve your sound? JF : Honestly, the main goal that we've had as a band from the beginning is we just wanna be natural. We want to write stuff that we can perform live, and we don't need a huge production to do it. If you hear us on the radio, when you see us live, or when you hear us on Spotify, it's nothing different than what you heard on our albums. Our main goal has always been to just be real, and natural. We don't spend a whole lot of time on post-production. It's just whatever we can play. We just put it on a track like that to make sure everything stays as real as possible. MaM : Do you have any specific brands of guitars or bass guitars that you like to use? JF : I have a Gibson Explorer, and I have an SG that I use. The other guitarist, he likes Fender. He also has a Gibson Les Paul, and that's his main guitar. We both really got into AXE-FX within the last two years. It's really simplified our consistency as far as our guitar tone goes. Every time we plug in, we know we're gonna sound the same regardless of the venue. That's really the main thing. We try to have a strong guitar front. The AXE-FX and Gibson guitars … That's our go-to. Credit: Ahnvee Photography MaM : What types of amps are you currently using? JF : We both started digging into the AXE-FX. For the last few years, I was using a Marshall DSL 100, and [the other guitarist] was using a Friedman BE-100. We try to stay in that Marshall, Friedman, Mesa/Boogie kind of sound on the fractal, but before you know it, you're dialing into six different cabs and five different amps. It's just kind of all over the place. Whatever sounds good for that particular song. We may switch it up for different songs, so it's kind of hard to nail that down. I can't say enough about the AXE-FX. You can do anything with it. MaM : Do you consider “City Lights” a concept album? JF : I wanna say the first song on that album was ‘City Lights’. We actually had that one written before we created the first album. I wanted to do a concept album, but I have two kids and three jobs. To write a concept album is a lot more time-consuming. The songs are kind of pieced together about different things. It's just about different things that have happened to us in our lives. That's what that album is all about. I wish I could say that it was a concept album, but I haven't had the time to really go down that rabbit hole. Hopefully, for this next album … That is the direction that I wanna go, and we'll see what happens. MaM : Any future plans or aspirations for the band? JF : I think RAD Fest is gonna open a lot of doors for us. You would think that social media would make it easy for people to get their music out. I think it makes it more difficult because there is just so much stuff thrown at you in a day. I think that a lot of stuff gets overlooked. RAD Fest is gonna be huge for us. Huge for all of the other bands too. I think it's gonna open the door for us to get shows with bands that we might not have been able to play with before. People will be able to see us that have not ever heard of us before. So, I'm looking forward to that. This is gonna be our biggest show, and I'm really looking forward to that. I can't wait to see what happens with it. MaM : Can I get any information about the new songs you are writing? JF : There's a new song that we play that is called ‘Anything at All’ and it is, by far, one of my favorite songs. We have a live version of it on our YouTube page from our last show if you wanted to check that out, but it's just a high-energy type of song. We try to keep our shows full of high energy, and that's probably the most pulled-up song that we have. MaM : Are there any memorable shows you have played so far? JF : We played at the Cajun Heartland State Fair last year. We're hoping to get on again this year, but I think we missed the deadline to apply. That's a cool thing that the Cajundome allows local bands like us to do. I can't say enough about the local scene in Lafayette. You have all these bands wanting to put on big shows and include us. The Cajun Heartland State Fair is probably the most notable thing that we've done so far, and I think RAD Fest is gonna be right there with it. Credit: Band's Facebook MaM : Do you have any other plans in the future after RAD Fest? JF : We do. We've been tracking some new songs, and hopefully, before the end of the summer, we'll have a release date for ‘Anything at All’. Then, we're gonna start working our way up to a full album release. That's the most exciting thing we have going on right now. I love writing music, and we all love recording it. That's definitely on the horizon. Facebook: @Stella Vir Instagram: @stellavirmusic YouTube: @stellavir8290 *cover photo by Ahnvee Photography https://www.ahnveephotography.com/ Je’an Paul Keller is a member of the 501st Legion and a huge sci-fi nerd. He’s also a HUGE music lover and is very passionate about drawing, sketching, painting, and making cosplays and movie-accurate costumes. 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: The Suckling Review Ezekiel Kincaid Share Mar 17, 2023 This B-horror movie is so bad, it's B-movie gold There are bad horror movies, and then there are so-bad-they’re-good horror movies. Ah, yes, the never-ending cesspool of B-horror movies. Some of us love them, and some of us hate them. And if you're in the vein of loving them, there are plenty for that. These days, there are so many B-movies out ther, one can get lost in the movie void when trying to figure out which ones are worth watching and which ones are worth skipping. But alas, have no fear, Zeke is here! I’m gonna wade through the B-movie junkyard so you don’t have to. Equipped with my high tolerance for bad acting, stupid plots, and excessive gore, I’m the perfect man for the job. Even my editor says so. This week we are kicking things off with an all-time favorite of mine and my fiancée’s called The Suckling. Directed by Francis Teri ( Flesh Eating Mothers , 1989—another great B-movie), this gem hit the horror scene on September 24th, 1990. The movie stars people you’ve probably never heard of as well: Geral Preger, Marie Michaels, Lisa Petruno, and Janet Sovey … anyone? ANYONE? Yeah, I didn’t think so. One of the things that makes this movie so great is that it absolutely takes itself seriously. In fact, in the opening credits, the director tries to make us think this is based on true events. What are those events and what is the plot of this movie? I’m glad you asked. Brace yourselves. Also known as Sewage Baby , the story follows a young couple in need of an abortion. The girl isn’t so sure about it but the boyfriend? He’s all in. from IMDB stills However, because of the taboo surrounding abortion, they are looking to try and take care of things in a discrete and cheap manner. And man, do they ever … they strike gold! The couple finds a brothel with a lady named Big Mamma, who happens to take care of such kind of needs. And, oh man, let me just tell you that the opening scenes taking place in this brothel are, well, absolutely trashy, completely offensive, and downright hilarious. Big Mamma, from IMDB stills The couple decides to go through with the abortion, and this is where things get loco. The fetus terminated in the operation is the largest, nastiest amalgamation of flesh imaginable. Then, like every good B-movie, toxic waste gets involved (think Toxic Avenger meets aborted baby). The dead fetus gets chunked down the sewer. which happens to be full of some sort of toxic waste. The waste mixes with the fetus, brings it back to life, and transforms it into this mutant-like creature that grows at an exponential rate. The beast is actually pretty cool-looking, despite the low budget. It has these razor-sharp teeth reminiscent of the creatures in Feast , along with flesh-serrating claws, as well as a special skill of attacking and killing people with its umbilical cord. There are also some great, low-budget kills with blood that looks like it was watered down to make it go farther, but it works. The Suckling, from IMDB stills To make things more interesting, the toxic fetus has a weird superpower. It is somehow able to wrap the entire outside of the building with a supermassive placenta. This traps everyone inside the brothel, allowing them to get picked off one by one. And don’t expect to care about any of the characters. They are all stupid, one-sided, and there just to be killed. Yes, this movie is every bit as crazy as it sounds—there’s even a wire hanger scene! Yikes. So, gather your Pro-Life and Pro-Choice friends for a watch party, and let the insanity begin! Zeke gives this one 5 out of 5 toxic fetuses. You can find The Suckling streaming on Tubi and Amazon Prime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHaXHv3X1Ko 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

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

Empowered < Back Rockin 4 Jesus: The Next Great Band You Haven't Heard Yet Nicole Brice Oct 22, 2022 Share Empowered Many bands label themselves and label themselves wrong. Case in point, Baton Rouge 's own, Empowered . A Christian Rock band fronted by Benny DiChiara with Shane Madere Jr. (lead guitarist, backing vocalist), Jeff Maddox (bass and background vocals), Mic Capdeville (percussion and background vocals), and Justin Burdette (guitarist and background vocals), this band has a serious unique sound that needs to be heard and is much more than just Christian Rock. With lyrical content that pulls at your heart strings, Empowered proves they are a band you should take notice of and listen to. credit: Gary Governale Empowered got its start in 1998 and was the brainchild of DiChiara who had previous success on the local music circuit singing with various secular bands. In 2011, they released the album Soulcry to modest success, but it wasn't until 2019's Three Days that the band really began to pick up steam. Three Days was produced by Mikey Howard of 7eventh Time Down / Love Journey Music and showcases the Empowered sound in all its glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TIny6LmI7c To follow up the success of Three Days , Empowered have recently released their third EP, Yahweh-Nissi via Slingshot Records , an Indie label based in Baton Rouge , LA. The title track is straight up in your face rock-‘n’-roll with a hardcore message and the rest of the EP is a finely produced melodic journey of love and Jesus that will leave you singing at the top of your lungs. Empowered performing at Yes Fest in Baton Rouge, LA on October 15, 2022 credit: Gary Governale Shane Madere Jr. , lead guitarist for Empowered , said of the sound he achieved for recording the title track, "I used a combination of my Ugly Amps Big Ugly 100 on the Ugly Channel plus an emulation of an Xotic BB Preamp from my Fractual Audio AX8 unit to get the sound I was looking for." Shane definitely got it right and the guitar has a nice crunch with the sound emulating the stomps of an army on the march. When I asked Shane of his guitar influences, he cites Eric Johnson . “My solo sound and even the notes I used on the studio recording of Yahweh-Nissi was very much influenced by him. He writes very melodic solos that fit the song." Shane Madere Jr. (guitar) credit: Gary Governale Recently, Empowered took the stage at Yes Fest 2022 to play their new EP in its entirety at the state fairgrounds in Baton Rouge sharing the bill with 7eventh Time Down and Kari Jobe amongst others. Their set was a powerhouse performance of finely tuned music that left you wanting more. Justin Burdette (guitar) credit: Gary Governale Of the experience playing Yes Fest , DiChiara has said, “Playing Yes Fest in Baton Rouge was such an exhilarating experience, not only being on that stage, but the ministry aspect of it as well. It’s an amazing and humbling thing to see God work things out for our good – but only if we are looking to see it." Mikey Howard of 7eventh Time Down with Benny DiChiara credit: Gary Governale He went on to say, "A special thanks to all of the artists who we got to share the stage with. It wasn't just about meeting other artists and hearing about their ministries, but we also got to share the stage with our mentor/producer/friend/brother in Christ, Mikey Howard . We sang our new radio single ' Jesus Can Heal The World ' and it was an incredible moment." Mikey Howard took the stage to perform "Jesus Can Heal the World" with Empowered credit: Gary Governale Empowered 's sound is definitely unique and DiChiara has said of their sound, "Well, it’s not necessarily that we're trying to write to a sound. Over the past two records, we do seem to have come into our own. Someone said if U2 married Daughtry , we’d be their band baby." Jeffrey Maddox (bass) credit: Gary Governale When asked what inspires the band, he went on to say, "The inspiration simply comes from God . Yahweh-Nissi was a direct discussion between He and I, and I was told of the direction for the title track. It’s simply a war cry for believers to rally with Jesus and take it to the evil that seems to be everywhere in the world right now. I think that the rest of the record points everyone in that direction as well. Who’s gonna rise tonight?". These guys in Empowered are definitely on the rise and people should take notice. Mic Capdeville (drums) credit: Gary Governale Empowered 's new EP, Yahweh-Nissi , is available NOW on all streaming platforms and you can learn more about the band via their social media and YouTube . Empowered | Facebook EmpoweredOfficial (@empowered_rockin4jesus) • Instagram photos and videos EMPOWERED - YouTube ‎Empowered on Apple Music Empowered | Spotify *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 us 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

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

Zizzi’s music is an innovative approach to storytelling with a nod to the classic rock masters before them < Back Zizzi: A Rock ‘N Roll Force to Be Reckoned With Nicole Brice Aug 23, 2023 Share Zizzi’s music is an innovative approach to storytelling with a nod to the classic rock masters before them In a world filled with countless musical acts, it takes something truly special to stand out amongst the crowd. Enter Zizzi, a band from New Iberia, Louisiana. Fresh off their killer performance at Rad Fest 2023, the band has just released a new single called, “South Carolina Woman”, and it’s bluesy, fierce, and just plain rocks. Formed in 2019 with five guys who hardly knew each other and had never really pursued music, Zizzi is emerging as a force to be reckoned with because of their innovative approach to storytelling. Credit: Gary Governale - Zizzi at Radfest 2023 in Lafayette, LA August 19, 2023 The band is currently comprised of some exceptionally talented musicians: Evan Zizzi on lead vocals; Austin Stoltz on drums; Devin Boutte on lead guitar; Gray Walker on bass, vocals, and rhythm guitar; and Andre Broussard on bass and rhythm guitar. If Led Zeppelin, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Alice in Chains had a band baby, it would be Zizzi. Heavily influenced by the classics but providing a well-rounded retro sound, these guys are on to something and are on the rise, so take note. Drawing inspiration from Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and sounding like Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, Evan’s vocal delivery allows the listener to feel the trials and tribulations that come through in the music and brings a soulful melodic voice to the band’s dynamic sound. Drummer Austin Stoltz provides the driving beats that underpin Zizzi’s catchy tunes, while Gray Walker and Andre Broussard add depth and groove to the band’s compositions. Devin Boutte’s ethereal guitar playing brings it all together. Credit: Gary Governale The band’s trademark sound can be described as a fusion of alternative rock, blues, and classic rock with their music exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and the human experience. Offering a fresh take on alternative rock, their music is quickly garnering recognition locally, and they are undoubtedly a band to watch out for in the coming years. We were able to chat with vocalist Evan Zizzi recently to throw him a few questions, so check out a little Q & A below and then go check out their new single and much more! Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Any other notable shows besides Rad Fest that you guys have played? EZ : Every show is memorable and always allows us to see where improvements can be made. If we had to pick, it would either be when we won Battle of the Bands at Fred’s in Tigerland in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in Spring 202,2 or our recent show at Rock ‘N Bowl in Lafayette, Louisiana. Both crowds were electric, and we fed off the people. We tend to downplay our abilities and criticize our performance like we are Simon Cowell on American Idol, but we’ve packed out some nice venues, which always makes us feel like we are doing something right. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : How did you hear about Rad Fest? EZ : We were a late addition to Rad Fest but were stoked to be invited to play at the festival. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : What influences your lyrics, daily happenings or abstract ideas? EZ : You know … lyrics are strange. Sometimes we have an idea of what the motif of the song is originally meant to be, and we stick to it and develop it. Other times we start with an idea, and it turns into an entirely different musical piece once our process is complete. Ultimately, we want our lyrics to allow each individual listener to feel a certain way and to develop their own meaning. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Where do you see the band headed in the future? EZ : We have done covers for so many years but recently the gears have shifted to focusing on our own music. Being with a group of guys like Zizzi has been a gift. We would advise everyone who is hesitant to form a group, is filled with self-doubt about their abilities, or has stage fright to just say, “F**k it!” and take the jump. Life is scary and short, so why not go make a fool out of yourself and play shows for $20 in someone’s backyard and make some of the best friends you’ve ever had? There’s something magical about the days when we were ignorant idiots just trying to be rock stars, begging for someone to give us a chance. We have been blessed and somehow the stars aligned for us to do what we do. It would be a crime and an injustice to everyone who’s helped us out or supported us along the way to not see this storybook adventure to its final chapter when we finally get the girl and barely make it home before our parents get back from their trip. Credit: Gary Governale As they continue to refine their craft and break new ground, there is no doubt that Zizzi’s influence will continue to grow, shaping the future of the music industry. Be sure to check out one of their links below and show them some love on social media. Facebook : Facebook Instagram : Zizzi (@zizziband) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify : Zizzi | Spotify *Cover photo - Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Nicole Brice just loves music. It doesn’t matter the type. Do you have something you think she should hear? Hit her up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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

Miles Nxbxdy pushes the boundaries of hip-hop by challenging expectations and broadening horizons. < Back Miles Nxbxdy: Revolutionizing Hip-Hop Nicole Brice Nov 13, 2023 Share Miles Nxbxdy pushes the boundaries of hip-hop by challenging expectations and broadening horizons. In the bustling world of hip-hop where trends come and go, there are a few artists who stand out with their unique style and unwavering authenticity. One such artist with introspective lyrics set to unconventional beats is delivering the goods by experimenting with the textures most often found in post-punk and industrial music. His name is Miles Nxbxdy. Hailing from New Jersey, born and raised in the heart of the urban landscape, Miles Nxbxdy’s career began in 2017 but did not start to take off until 2018. After meeting producer Jason Freeze in Asbury Park in 2018 at a show, the two began to embark on a working partnership that is still going strong to this day. Credit: YouTube From an early age, Miles was exposed to a rich musical tapestry, incorporating everything from gritty sounds to modern and experimental vibes. Miles weaves narratives with detail and emotional depth and is proving he is unafraid to tackle controversial topics and explore society’s underbelly. Plain and simple, Nxbxdy is an artist unafraid to speak the truth. He’s raw, he’s edgy, he’s honest … and he explores the darkness with carefully orchestrated songs that explore the full depth of human emotions. If I had to describe his music, I would have to categorize it as Art Rap. It does not sound like anything I have ever heard, and it is truly challenging expectations and broadening the horizons of hip-hop by bringing such a fresh perspective to the game. Credit: Jeff Crespi I reached out to Miles recently so I could learn more about his songwriting, his background, and future projects. I was able to chat not only with Miles but also with his producer and partner-in-crime, Jason Freeze, where we discussed the music we love, the music we hate, and the state of the industry in general, as well as what makes up the music of Miles Nxbxdy. With numerous collabs under his belt since 2018, including the likes of Desperry, Gnarly Nonsense of OFFTOPKILLS, and Drew the Recluse & h e a l (Craig Xen & Rico Nasty), Nxbxdy has shown he is unafraid to explore new horizons and the dark and intrapersonal side of rap, and it is refreshing. Take a moment to learn a little more about this artist who is pushing boundaries, then be sure to check out his discography. MaM : I’ve been diving into all your music, and you have released quite a bit since 2017. Tell us a little more about your various projects and what initially led you to making music? MN : It was about 2018 when I started taking music seriously. I have always had a background in it since I play four instruments, but in 2017 I released ‘Don’t 4get to Smile … Bitch’ and then in 2018 I released my album, ‘Free Bird for the Free World’ and that led into ‘Beautiful Scumbags’. When COVID-19 happened, I had to take a pause, but 2018 was when I truly started. I’m sort of a late bloomer. Released September 13, 2019 MaM : Writing lyrics just to have them—did you ever think you would do anything with them? MN : No, not really. … I didn’t take it seriously. When I released ‘Free Bird for the Free World’ was when I started taking it seriously because I was approached after the release by a couple of noteworthy people who liked my music, and their response was positive. I didn’t think it was that good, but when that happened, I thought, ‘Oh! I have talent!’ (laughter) JF : Miles and I have this conversation a lot and I think music is more of a necessity for both of us. It would be harder to stop making music than it is to just make it. Even on days off, when I tell myself I’m going to chill, I end up making a beat. MaM : I think all creative types are like that. We must be constantly creating. Do you have any other hobbies or interests outside of music? MN : I have too many interests and hobbies. (laughter) MN : I’m into anime, manga, comics, and fashion. The cost of fashion is a little much, but I’m big into movies, too. I’ll watch a French film, a Japanese one, a Kai film … it all just depends. Released October 19, 2018 MaM : My husband likes anime, too. Musically, what are your favorite genres and who would you say has been your biggest influence musically? MN : Man, oh, that is a hard question. Right now, I’m really into 2000’s alt-rock. I like post-punk. I like jazz and classical, too. The only thing I’m not really into is opera and modern country. I’d say everything is worth a listen, though. MaM : So, how would you describe the type of music you make? You have such a unique sound. What is your creative process like? Do you write to the beat or do the lyrics come first? MN : We’ve been working a lot the last few years. We have two full albums being mixed right now. Since ‘Beautiful Scumbags’ and ‘Free Bird [for the Free World]’, the music has become more electronic. JF : It has developed more since ‘Beautiful Scumbags’ for sure, and we both have become better at the craft. MN : I generally tell people I make post-rap, though, because it has so many layers. You know when The Clash made ‘London Calling’? That album is considered punk, but some consider it post-punk because of all the elements to it. My music now has so many elements from other forms and styles that I don’t want to call it rap or punk rap or experimental rap because it’s more specific than experimental rap but not as noisy as industrial rap. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I’ll agree with post-rap. I think that’s an accurate way to describe it. With most rap, you can always find a tinge of influence to categorize it, but with you, I just can’t. MN : That was the goal. In 2017, I went into a deep music hole where I got big into Joy Division, Maggot Brain, Janis Joplin, Jane Doe … an amalgamation of all these eclectic artists, but I didn’t want to make their music. I wanted to take elements from all of that. Because my music is so unique, it makes it difficult to push it. JF : Miles will come in with an idea and it always ends up somewhere else. The beat usually comes first, but sometimes he’ll come in with lyric ideas as a starting point. MN : The rule we follow is, ‘Don’t overthink it.’ If we overthink it, it becomes not good every time. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : I can agree with that. Do you have plans to collaborate with any specific artists in the future, and if so, who? MN : It’s funny that you ask that. Right now, I’m working on two albums with these artists I am friends with. One is named Braciola and the other is named Gnarly Nonsense. They are both going to be on the upcoming albums. As far as famous artists are concerned, I would love to work with Big K.R.I.T. and Trent Reznor. Trent and Death Grips are the dream. They are both active still, so we’ll see what happens. MaM : Never say never! It could happen! I could see you guys opening for Nine Inch Nails. Let’s manifest that. (laughter) MN : That would be sick. I would also like to work with Tyler, the Creator. Most of the mainstream artists I have no interest in working with. MaM : What is one message you would like to convey with your music? MN : It’s okay to feel. A lot of my music is very emotional and dark. I scream for those who can’t. The whole idea behind Miles Nxbxdy is a play on a John Doe as anybody. I’m Miles Nxbxdy, so in that way, I’m a nobody, but I’ll be that somebody for you. My newer music that isn’t out yet is a long letter to my adolescent self and my childhood self. This is the music we could have used to work through emotions that we didn’t understand [growing up]. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : So, when can we expect the new music to drop? MN : That’s a good question. Everything you’ve heard so far is good, but it’s more of a 4 [on a scale of 1-10] and this new stuff is more like a 9. We found someone in Brooklyn to mix it all and Jason found someone to master it. The final vocal mixing was recently, and honestly, we’ve been sitting on this material for some time. JF : We’re aiming to have the music done by the end of the year, but then we must start the process of how it is going to be released. MN : Maybe mid to late January? I’m not sure. 2024 definitely. JF : We don’t want to just put it out there and have nothing happen. We want to find the best way to distribute it. Credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : What does the future hold, you think? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? MN : I’m gonna be big in Japan collecting all the Manga. (laughter) MN : I legitimately believe we’re going to be big in Europe. The landscape of music is very different. I feel they have a different appreciation for music than Americans. It’s more celebrated there and here it’s more monetized. I truly feel Europe will embrace what we are doing first. With a discography spanning from 2017-2021, including numerous releases and with two more currently on the way, Miles Nxbxdy is undoubtedly an artist worth watching in the contemporary hip-hop scene. With his unparalleled authenticity, he continues to push the boundaries of the genre and undoubtedly will inspire other artists to embrace their true selves and use music as a catalyst for change. To experience Miles Nxbxdy, hit one of the links below and be sure to give him a follow on social media. Soundcloud : Stream M I L E S NxBxDY music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud Apple Music : ‎Miles Nxbxdy - Apple Music Instagram : Miles Nxbxdy (@miles_nxbxdy) • Instagram photos and videos Spotify : Miles Nxbxdy | Spotify Amazon Music : Miles Nxbxdy on Amazon Music YouTube : Miles Nxbxdy - YouTube *cover photo courtesy of 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

Ventruss creates a sound that defies categorization < Back Ventruss: An Orchestration of Dedication, Creativity, and Passion Chris Pryor Aug 18, 2023 Share Ventruss creates a sound that defies categorization In the heart of Louisiana’s music scene, an orchestration of dedication, creativity, and unwavering passion resounds through the ranks of the alternative metal band known as Ventruss. Behind the electrifying riffs and soul-stirring vocals lies a band that has honed is musical prowess and perfected the art of collaboration and resilience. Formed in 2012, Ventruss has seen numerous line-up changes over the years, but that doesn’t stop them from releasing new music and touring. A recent phone interview with BJ Davidson, Ventruss’ drummer and driving force, provided an insightful glimpse into the band’s journey, challenges, and aspirations. Ventruss is taking the stage on August 19, 2023 to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at Parc International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, and is the sixth band in our installment of interviews with all acts on the bill. Credit: Facebook Navigating the intricate tapestry of metal music, these veteran musicians have crafted a distinctive sound that defies easy categorization. The band has gracefully melded these elements with alternative metal, creating a sonic landscape that captivates and enthralls listeners. The band’s dedication to musical excellence remains unwavering and BJ Davidson shared insights into their evolution over the past decade. From their early days in Louisiana’s local scene to their emergence as a regional force to be reckoned with, Ventruss continues to forge ahead with no signs of slowing down. Credit: Facebook One of Ventruss’ defining attributes is their ability to seamlessly navigate the challenges that often plague many bands: finding and maintaining the right line-up. BJ candidly discussed the uphill battle of locating committed, like-minded musicians and how their continuous pursuit of synergy has shaped the group’s identity. With a keen emphasis on respecting one another’s artistic input and maintaining strong interpersonal bonds, Ventruss exemplifies the delicate balance between artistic collaboration and personal relationships. Read on to learn more! MaM : So, let's have a conversation about the group to give fans and maybe some of those who don't know Ventruss some background info. BJ : The band was formed in 2012. I'm the drummer in the band and on lead vocals, we have Ben Jewell, who's one of the founders of the band. Shawn Saizan is our lead guitar player. Jake "Big Chug" Chenevert-he's our bass player, and we've got Jesse Newman on rhythm guitar and backup vocals. MaM : I know you said you weren't in the band for the first three years, but in the past seven years, tell me how it has evolved, and has y'all's vision for this group changed in any way? BJ : Oh yeah, definitely. I'll say you can hear the band's prgression if you listen from our first album to our second album and then to our newest album that we put out a few years ago. We're also about to go record a new song next month. So, you can steadily hear our progression as a band and a lot of that stems from, I think, the different people we've had in and out of the band over the years. Just us growing up, getting better at our instruments and as individuals, and everybody in the band, I think, has different influences. So, I feel like we're a band that you really can't put in just one block or one category or genre of metal because there are all kinds of different types of metal. One thing about us that I've always loved is the fact that some of our earlier work wasn't quite heavy metal. It was more on the alternative rock/metal side of music. But then as we've progressed over the years, we've gotten a lot more technical and heavier. We've started tuning our guitars lower and trying different things like that. So, it's like we always evolve in different ways-and the sounds and influence also. Every member's input is always welcome. Our approach to songwriting might be a little different, which is also another reason why I think it takes us longer to write material. In 10 years, we put out three albums and we only have about 17 original songs in our entire catalog, but all of our songs are of excellent quality from start to finish. We really focus on the music and the parts; we really try to build the parts up to get as much out of them as we can. So, our approach to writing is a little different than the other bands in that way, I think. I joined the band seven years ago; the band hadn't had a steady drummer for a while. So as soon as I joined the band we [rehearsed], we started playing shows...left and right. Then we were really, really getting noticed, and any time a big national touring metal band or act came through the big music venues, like the House of Blues in New Orleans or the Varsity Theater in Baton Rouge , Southport Hall in New Orleans , they were calling us. So that really helped us out a lot with our notoriety and getting discovered. We've since stopped playing locally so much and started focusing on traveling and touring after we released our second album. Credit: Facebook MaM : Well, it sounds like you guys got it going on. What are some of the biggest obstacles you've had to overcome as a group? BJ : The biggest obstacle I would say we've had to face, and I'm sure that many bands if not all bands, have had to face this: finding the right people to join your band and stay dedicated. That's one of the hardest things to do. MaM : I totally agree with that righ there. You know, to me that is the biggest thing. It's finding not only incredible musicians but also ones who are willing to put in the work. BJ : Exactly. It's a financial thing. It's a mentality. It's a commitment. It's musical equipment. It's all these things that go into this to make this work and you really got to have that special blend of people that, when they perform together, have that good chemistry. I'll never forget this: One time, Sevendust ... said in an interview ... that picking your bandmates is a very crucial part because you're going to be, if you get to that level, traveling and touring, spending all this time with these guys in very close quarters. So, you know, if you've got an asshole type of personality in your band, it's only going to amplify and get worse when you're traveling and touring around, so you got to keep that in mind. It doesn't matter how good you are or who you are if you're not personable and polite and you don't respect people's time. Credit: band's website MaM : So, we've been through the good, we've been through some of the trials and tribulations of trying to find musicians, keep musicians, and get the right caliber of guys in your group. Now you're looking at your big picture, which is what for this group? What's your endgame? Where do you see this thing in the five years or so? BJ : I feel like now our plan is to just keep writing good music that we love and just keep continuously on the grind. We've been on the grind for 10 years now. It's a big cycle that comes in waves. You've got the creative waves where you're creating your albums. In the next five years, we plan to grow, but like I said, every member's voice is always heard in this band. We all run the show and we all have different areas that we specialize in. We all kind of have different roles and responsibilities that help us keep everything moving along. MaM : Well, let me ask you this: I know with three albums and 17 songs, it's probably tough to pick a favorite, but if you had to, which would you say is Ventruss' best song - your signature song? BJ : If I had to pick one song from our whole catalog, I would probably say our song "Talladega" is it. That's also our best-performing song on Spotify and Apple Music. It's been out a couple of years and if somebody wants to hear what we are as a band of interest, I always point to that song because it showcases the best of all of us and what we can do. It's aggressive and fast and in your face, but there there are some parts that are not so in your face. And then vocally, you've got good vocal melodies, clean singing and those nasty gut-wrenching screams. So, there's a good contrast there from start to finish. MaM : So, I watched the video for "Talladega" and that's a cool video. I mean, you've got the fast cars on the track. I like that; I'm a NASCAR fan. Is that the kind of direction you all were trying to go with this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yta_7tc9mPE BJ : Yes and no. I'll say that the music video shoot was fun. That was the first time our bands got to do a high-budget type of film. We've done music videos prior to that one, but it wasn't quite on the budget and the production if was at that level. [For "Talladega"], we had a whole film crew. We filmed it at the New Orleans Speedway. Our old bass player, Steven, was a huge NASCAR fan and we were just trying to think of a name to call this song and he said, 'Let's just call it 'Talladega' because Talladega was coming up in NASCAR and he was looking forward to watching the race. It was a fast, aggressive song, so it kind of was fitting in that way. And then we wanted to do this fun racing video to go with it. MaM : Is there anything upcoming you guys want to share? Big show announcements, song releases? Just some tidbits you can throw to the fans? BJ : Yeah, we've been writing new material. We hopefully will have one to two new songs, maybe, released by the end of the year, and if not released, then we're definitely trying to have two to three recorded by the end of the year. So, people can be on the lookout for some new music from us in the upcoming months. You might hear us trying some new stuff that might change our sound up, too. MaM : There you go, man. Well then, the last question I've got for you is what can we expect from you at Rad Fest 2023? BJ : We've been around, and our live shows have alwasy been something that has made us stand out. So, you know, any time you see us perform, we're gonna be high energy, in-your-face aggressive. Ben is a hell of a frontman. He's one of the best crowd controllers I've ever seen, especially in the local scene. He's just got something about him when he's up there; he can really draw your attention. And then you've got all of us in the band behind him. Every time I play, and I sit behind my drums, I put on a show myself just on my drum set. You know, I want people at any time in the show when they look at me, if they happen to look at me playing, I want them to feel what I'm playing and be entertained. If you see us at Rad Fest 2023, you will be entertained. Credit: Icon Photography As Ventruss stands on the brink of new horizons, the band's future promises continued growth and musical exploration. Guided by a meticulous work ethic and a profound respect for their craft, they are gearing up to release fresh material that embodies their ever-evolving sound. In the face of adversity and industry challenges, Ventruss remains an embodiment of dedication and a testament to the unbreakable sprirt of music. Be sure to catch them at Rad Fest 2023 or check them out via one of their links below. Website : www.ventrussmusic.com Facebook : www.facebook.com/Ventruss Instagram : Ventruss (@ventruss_official) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter : Profile / X (twitter.com) YouTube : youtube.com/channel/UCXIH1_IqS_TKSgVwbnFg2mw Spotify : Ventruss | Spotify *Cover photo - www.ventrussmusic.com Christopher Pryor is a multi-talented Renaissance man who currently fronts the Louisiana-based band Chris Pryor & The Main Event. He loves to listen to new music and give his opinions. 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

Charlton Fine Art < Back Be Still My Beating Heart Keeley Brooks Apr 13, 2023 Share Charlton Fine Art I certainly do not know much about fine art, but I am a creative type, so I do know when I’m gazing upon something truly special. And, while all kinds of art speak to me on some level in some way, there are those moments when you view, read, watch, or listen to something that transcends awareness, then reaches right into the core of your being and snags hold of your soul. That is when you know something inside of you has met its counterpart in something else, and I met a piece of mine in the artwork of Melanie Charlton , owner of Charlton Fine Art . Melanie & Cheese (provided by artist) A few weeks ago, I opened Facebook and right there waiting in my feed was a gorgeous portrait of a Boston Terrier that took my breath away. See, I have a soft spot for Bosties because I have one. While my brain knew I was looking at a painting, my heart and eyeballs swore differently. The image was so lifelike and full of such heartfelt personality that I had to know more about the artist who painted it. Hailing from Alberta, Canada , Melanie Charlton is an absurdly gifted and completely self-taught contemporary artist with a heavily rooted focus on imaginative realism/surrealism. Painting since 2007 , her work reflects her genuine love and passion for animals and nature. She’s 100% a perfectionist, and each of her pieces reflect that. From dogs and elephants to farmhouses, winter streams, and dreamscapes, Charlton’s paintings are certainly worthy of lighted displays and glass cases. Art by Melanie Charlton Art by Melanie Charlton What makes her unique as a contemporary artist aren’t her subjects, though; it’s her … who she is. Melanie is kind and authentic, very gentle and deeply empathetic—a genuinely sweet soul, and those qualities are what come through most in her art. Her intentional, delicate touches of surrealism interweave with her style of realism and organically work together to capture not just the individuality of each subject but also each subject’s essence. Charlton’s images are captivating in the tiniest details, but don’t just take my word for it; see for yourself. This is Mickey, guys. Check out the fine detail and really spend some time looking into this sweet pup’s eyes, see what you notice. Then, check out my conversation with Melanie about her influences, her processes, and her love for dogs. Art by Melanie Charlton MaM : Melanie, thank you so much for taking some time away from your studio to chat with us and introduce yourself to our world. How were you introduced to art and by whom? MC : Memories of my mom painting at her easel still float around in my head. When I was very little, I was not allowed to touch her oil paints and things because she used [supplies] like turpentine but was totally exposed to her creative process. By the time I was in kindergarten, one of my favorite places was in the sun-filled corner of the classroom at the little easel. I can still smell the paint pucks! MaM : What impact did that have on you as a child? MC : My first experiences were out in Alberta , and those memories of my mother, mixed with my very vivid dreams (which always included animals and birds), impacted me deeply. I used to get teased by my family for not being able to distinguish my dreams from reality. [They used to say], ‘Oh look, she’s having a Melory again.’ A Melory is one of my memories that didn’t happen but is what [my family] called it. (laughs) My art has allowed me to think about things, and it allows me to create a space for my mind to work things out at my own pace [while] afford[ing] myself the peace and patience away from the rest of the world. My art has definitely helped me discover what I truly value in life. MaM : What specifically about art spoke to you? What drew you in (no pun intended)? MC : Ha ha, I’ve always been drawn to anything that creates an emotional response! The ability to capture a specific feeling or dream-like atmosphere always inspires me. It’s like looking for that little spark that stirs your inner soul when you see it. To create art that can be experienced is so satisfying. Art by Melanie Charlton MaM : Yes! That’s exactly what you do: create art that isn’t just seen, it’s also experienced on a deeply emotional level. What do you love most about imaginative realism/surrealism, and how do you convey that in your work? MC : Imaginative realism/surrealism has a lack of logic and an intensity that dives right into people’s personal thoughts and feelings. It’s honest and isn’t required to make sense. I think we all have a creative streak in us; however, our world teaches us to be practical and ignore our impulsive urges. If I think about how I convey this in my work, I laugh. The thought of a grown woman sitting down to paint a picture of someone’s dog, or a dream, is not practical, [nor is it] a serious line of work by today’s standards. Sometimes, I receive a funny response when I tell people I paint pet portraits but then sometimes, I meet people who love their animals so dearly—those are my people. The love and refuge we exchange with the soul of a pet is pure. MaM : Completely pure and unconditional. It’s so beautiful, and it’s very different than the love and refuge we exchange with other people, I think. Tell us about the four-legged babies in your life and what led you to paint them. MC : I was lucky enough to grow up in a household that had a dog named Joey. He was a big mixed breed with two dots for eyebrows. Very loving and very scared of thunderstorms. His death was the only time I saw my father cry, even though he tried to hide it from us. After Joey, we were lucky enough to get a dog breed my father had always wanted as a child: a Boston Terrier. Ernie was the runt of the litter but ruler of the household! I don’t think I experienced all the highs of love and the lows of loss until Ernie. Maybe I learned you can’t have one without the other and that I am fine with that and even respect it. Years later, after Ernie, I moved out and, of course, decided to get my own Boston Terrier, Maggie. She was with me 11 years and was the epitome of the world’s sweetest girl. She broke our hearts when she passed. Words don’t convey the love or the loss [I felt for her], and she was my first portrait. Time doesn’t heal, and I actually haven’t finished her main portrait, yet. I think it keeps her closer and that chapter open. The decision to get another Boston was made as my husband and I found ourselves chasing other Boston owners down on the street to meet their dogs. … Now, we’re the proud parents of our 10-year-old boy Toby, who is literally treated like royalty, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. MaM : Oh, I completely get that. My Bostie is, for sure, the Queen Elizabeth of our lives. Do you have a favorite painting of your own? If so, what is it and why? What does it represent for you? MC : After all [my] years of painting, I actually don’t have a favorite piece. I just see the personalities and can’t choose. I do like one of my work-in-progress pictures of my previous Boston Terrier, Maggie. It’s just her, and I feel her eternal connection. MaM : You hit the nail on the head. Eternal connection … that is exactly what your portraits provide. Those are the two words epitomizing your work. Do you ever do any live paintings? MC : Live paintings? Ahhhh! I cringe at the idea, as most of the time I [am] painting in my pajamas. (laughter) I can barely stand my own family coming into my art room until I’m happy with what I create. Maybe one day. I wish I could be more open, but I think sometimes it takes more than one attempt at working things out. I hold dear the time, space, and patience to focus on who [and what] I’m painting. MaM : How do you capture a pup’s (or animal’s) personality? And seriously, how do you get your paintings to look so life-like? Because viewing your work is like looking at live images. Your talent is truly breathtaking. Art by Melanie Charlton MC : Making them look real has taken years of experimenting with color, and I honestly feel like I am just starting to learn. One of my favorite books is ‘ Oil Painting Secrets from a Master ’ by Linda Cateura . Her book on David A. Leffel is superb on how to see light and color … painting the light and how it bounces off things and painting what you really see. For instance, when you look outside and see the snow, it’s white, right? Well, no. It’s pink, purple, blue, and everything in between. It is the same with white fur … and the same with the eyes. I love their eyes. I see the colors in them and know exactly how I want them. MaM : What do you get commissioned to do most? MC : Mostly, I get commissioned for Boston Terrier portraits. I was lucky enough that the breeder we got our Toby from was connected to a few Boston Terrier groups on Facebook and invited me in. Here and there, I received commissions of other breeds and honestly, I just feel very honored when asked. It’s such a personal request from a stranger, sometimes on the other side of the world! Love is always stronger, so I think it’s a good thing to be putting out in the world, and I really hope people feel that when they see my work. MaM : Of all the things to be putting out there in the world, love is where it’s at, for sure. We feel such tender love in your work. So, would you take us through your process when an idea strikes? MC : It is not very often that I draw my initial ideas on canvas or board to begin. Usually, I sketch out my concepts on paper first, refine them to exactly what I want, and then transfer them to the canvas or board using transfer paper. Art by Melanie Charlton Art by Melanie Charlton This avoids excessive erasing marks or muddying the paint, especially light colors with lead/charcoal. [It also avoids] creating a lovely sagging canvas. MaM : I sense some sarcasm there, ha ha. What are you currently working on, sans sagging canvas? (laughs) MC : Right now … I am actually working on the largest piece to date, which will be a wildlife Elk painting, 48 inches by 60 inches on a gallery-wrapped canvas, completed in oils. MaM : Wow. Nice. Are oils your preferred medium? MC : Oil paints are my favorite, as I find the layering can be infinite (good for correcting things), and they, of course, take longer to dry. I am really aiming for the Elk piece I’m working on right now to land between the real feeling[s] of being out in nature and in a dream, with deep vibrant color. Initially, I tried to paint with acrylics; however, they really limit the time you have with a piece because of drying times, and you really only get about three layers before they start destroying the piece. MaM : We’re sure your Elk piece will be stunning, and we can’t wait to see it! Your work embodies such warmth. It just embraces you as the viewer. We thank you so much for speaking with us. Before we go, we want to know: What are you currently watching? MC : I have to say, it has been a pleasure to answer your questions, and I also have to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind words about my work. MaM : Aw, well we mean every word! We’re glad you’re out there in the world sharing your gift with the rest of us. MC : For streaming things right now, we’ve been watching ‘Yellowstone.’ … I do like the unapologetic nature; however, I am huge fan of sci-fi and, of course, romance. Click here to see more of Melanie's work, or to have a piece commissioned, visit her online at www.CharltonFineArt.com . Then, connect with her on social media from her home page and show her some love! *images taken from artist website 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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