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A New York Musician taking the World by Storm < Back Cyberattack Rearranges the Electronic Music Scene Nicole Brice May 8, 2023 Share A New York Musician taking the World by Storm Cyberattack is a talented and innovative New York-based musician who is quickly making a name for himself in the electronic music scene. With music that is glitchy and emotionally complex, Cyberattack is the performance name of NYC-based guitarist/songwriter/singer/YouTuber Ivan Anderson. With the use of bright vivid imagery, he makes these incredible music videos that reel you right in, showcasing an imaginary landscape of nostalgia and charm. His latest video, out today May 8, 2023, is for his rendition of the Tom Petty classic “Listen to Her Heart”. Cyberattack has continued to churn out quality content since launching his YouTube channel in 2017 and he shows no sign of slowing down. The new music video for “Listen to Her Heart” is made to look like Ivan has been absorbed into an old-school graphing calculator, with a lot of painstakingly designed lo-fi special effects that must be seen to be believed. The song itself is lovingly hostile to the original Tom Petty source material. The basic idea behind Ivan’s very glitchy treatment of it is that sometimes when you listen to your heart, the message is mystifying and bizarre. The song and the video end up devolving into noisy, nonverbal chaos like a brute-force introduction to the Cyberattack aesthetic and approach to music: glitched out, unapologetic, and, underneath it all, extremely romantic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EINdLqmcYH0 His previous music video " Fantasy Killer " won Best Music Video in the Bowery Film Festival and was a finalist in the New York Cinematography Awards, New York Movie Awards, Jersey Shore Film Festival, and the Artists Forum of the Moving Image. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q145O-EkxSM In addition to Cyberattack, Ivan Anderson has performed, co-written, appeared on records, made videos, or otherwise collaborated with Tim Lefevbre (bassist for David Bowie, Tedeschi Trucks Band, etc.), Rhett Shull, Emily Hopkins, Knobs, Fusilier, SWEET FIX, Mobile Steam Unit, and preston.outatime (aka Preston Parris). Ivan Anderson is a busy dude. Released in 2020, his full-length debut Cyberattack album “Hard Feelings” was produced by Geoff Stanfield (Portugal.The Man, Sun Kil Moon) and is currently available on all streaming platforms. We took a moment to chat with Ivan about his creativity and flair for all things visual. in addition to discussing music in general. Are you looking for an amazing new artist to discover? Look no further. Here’s what Anderson had to say. MaM : Hey Ivan! It is Ivan, right? Not Evan? For some reason, I want to pronounce your name like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV . It was what automatically popped into my brain. (laughs) IA : I love Rocky IV and the character Ivan Drago, so I can tell this conversation is off to a great start. It is pronounced Ivan, though. MaM : Give us a brief background about yourself. I read somewhere that you are from Englewood, NJ. Tell us a little more about that. IA : So, I’m not actually from Englewood, but I am from a town very close to there called Leonia. It’s only a mile or so away from Englewood. Leonia is a very small town. I feel like I grew up in the suburbs of New York, but on the New Jersey side. Those who grew up in New York would have some different feelings about whether that counts or not. I’ve been making music professionally for as long as I can remember. I graduated from college in 2009, and at that time, I was in a band called Sweet Fix and we were a New York band. I had formed the band in college, but after graduation I was just trying to make that band happen, but I still had a day job, too. And, along the way I ended up interning for a music studio and I started doing a bit of session guitar playing, too, along with collaborating with other people, and so I was starting to round out my resume as a professional musician. In 2015, my band broke up, and I was a little freaked out because I had big dreams for that band, so when [we] broke up, I was like, ‘What now”? I was still trying to do the “guitar player for hire” stuff, too, around this time, so I decided to just start my own project—my own band—which I ended up naming Cyberattack. I do have collaborators for the records and other people I use for them, but they’re all hired guys. Cyberattack is truly an Ivan Anderson solo project. Photo from artist social media MaM : Tell us a little more about your YouTube channel. I see you have over 15.7k subscribers. IA : I started the YouTube channel around 2016, along with securing the name for Instagram, etc. I started out by putting some music videos on there that I did. ‘Fantasy Killer’ was one of those early videos. I was still figuring out the look and vibe I wanted, though … like the visual kind of energy of what Cyberattack would be. I love all those weird old video games and the whole retro thing. It’s just insane with all the colors, so I wanted to emulate that. I was sort of figuring out what I wanted as I made the videos and a collaborator friend of mine, John, helped me achieve that. Also, too, during lockdown for COVID, nothing was going on, so I decided to start adding videos to my channel about the guitar pedals I had. I just made a demo video about some of the equipment I had lying around. Those started to catch on better than my music videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PmHWap1T-E MaM : Your music videos are works of art, man. I’m not going to lie. I went down a rabbit hole on your YouTube channel checking everything out. The videos remind me of playing my old Sega Master System back in the day at my parents’ house. See, I was never the Nintendo chick. My dad got us the Sega because he said it had better graphics. IA : There was like a team identity to all of that. I feel like it was rare for any adult to have any knowledge of anything video game related. That’s awesome that your dad picked the Sega because of better graphics. photo from video for Fantasy Killer MaM : With you being multi-talented, what is your preferred instrument to play? IA : I’m the best at guitar. That’s my high card. MaM : I saw you playing an SG—is that your preferred type? IA : I do like Gibson SG’s, although I feel like there’s just something about my SG. The instrument means a lot to me and is my main recording guitar. I think all SG’s look cool because of the devil horns on them. They’re not trying too hard to be evil looking but have this kind of low-key evil vibe look. I just love the way my SG sounds, though. I really like how it sounds recorded. It just has a basic good tone where when you hear it, you’re like, ‘Yeah, I’ll go with that.’ MaM : Do you own any other guitars? IA : Oh, I have a few. I have a Fender Strat, which I find has a much more specific sound to it, but it’s a sound I like. I also have a custom guitar that was built for me by a guy out in Orangeburg, New York. It’s pretty cool. The shape and design are a little more in your face. It’s got curves and points. It’s definitely a little more out there. It was built by a guy named Alex Glasser with Iron Horse Instruments. The idea was to design Ivan’s dream guitar. It was made after I recorded the first Cyberattack album. It’s become my main guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVGkkxFkws MaM : So, as far as musical influences go, who do you cite in driving you to create? IA : I only vaguely remember this, but my dad used to play the music of Jimi Hendrix all the time. He was a big Jimi Hendrix fan. I connected with his music right away and he just seemed like he was the coolest guy ever. It definitely had a huge impact on me as a kid. His guitar was cool. His approach to music was cool. I just knew that I liked it. As the years went by, though, I started to learn more about music, and I started branching out with what I was listening to. As a teenager was when I started trying to write lyrics and sing. I sort of took on a new approach to caring about music, too, and just sound. MaM : That’s awesome. So, as far as your favorite type of music is concerned, do you have one? What do you listen to in the car when you’re driving around? Do you even need a car to live in New York? IA : I actually do have a car. For gigs and stuff, it comes in handy. I grew up in the suburbs and used to love to drive and it was a huge part of life. Driving in Manhattan is the worst driving experience ever. There are stop lights everywhere and all you do is stop and go constantly … oh, and parallel parking is everywhere. As far as my music taste goes, it’s geared more towards classic rock. You can’t go wrong with the early Van Halen albums featuring David Lee Roth. I love early Metallica. I like a lot of guitar players and classic rock stuff. I’ve liked the same types of music since I was 14 years old, and it has never changed. I feel like that’s how my identity was formed. Photo from artist social media MaM : Tell us a little more about your new music video for “Listen to Her Heart”. IA : Well, that’s the fanciest video we have done yet, and I felt we had to build up to that with the previous videos. I like my videos to capture you for three or four minutes while watching them, but how do you go about that really? I don’t have a lot of money to get these crane shots over a bridge or anything like that, but my buddy John went to film school and he’s the guy who can set up the lights how they need to be and knows all the technical stuff. We usually just rent a studio that has a green screen and then go from there. Photo from the new video for Listen to Her Heart MaM : What made you decide to cover Tom Petty? IA : I picked it mainly just because I like the music of Tom Petty. ‘Free Falling’ was everywhere when I was a kid. You could not go anywhere without hearing that song, including the mall. I was always drawn to what he did vocally, though. I just like the way he sings. He is an incredible lyricist. Photo from the new video for Listen to Her Heart MaM : When you are writing your own song lyrics, where do you draw inspiration from? IA : Lyrics, for me, are by far the hardest thing. I can come up with ideas and melody, but the process of writing lyrics takes a bit. There’s, like, a million voice memos on my phone of me just singing little melodies that I think are good. I put enormous pressure on myself to have the lyrics be what I think are good enough, which makes it that much harder. MaM : So, what’s going on with the new music? Have you even started the writing process? IA : I’m gonna start recording the next Cyberattack album at the end of this year, but before I do, I want to finish making music videos for every song on the first album. And there’s only two left. One is the Tom Petty cover. After that, I will be officially done with the first album cycle, and I can start the recording process for the second album, so stay tuned! - Want to stimulate your eyeballs? Head on over to Ivan’s Cyberattack YouTube channel to experience his creativity in all its colorful glory. Also, be sure to like and follow him on social media to stay up to date on albums and releases. Be sure to check out his brand spanking new video for "Listen to Her Heart" - out NOW ! cyberattack (@cyberattack_world) • Instagram photos and videos Cyberattack - YouTube Cyberattack | Spotify Hard Feelings | Cyberattack (bandcamp.com) Cyberattack | Facebook Cyberattack | creating glitchy music and videos | Patreon www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nicole Brice is a huge nerd. She loves listening to new music and checking out cool stuff. Want her to check out your creations? Email her at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 3: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 25, 2023 Share Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. Welcome back, boys and girls, to your blue-collar philosophy lesson with Zeke. I hope you’ve been enjoying this philosophical series of Saw franchise articles so far, and I also hope you’ve had some time to start watching the Saw franchise again so you can see firsthand what I am discussing in this series. In the next two articles, we are going to get into the nitty gritty of my theory. But before we do, I’d like you to know I’m not the only one who has come to this conclusion about John Kramer operating under a Nietzschean nihilist philosophy. There are others, such as Steve Jones, who goes into much more detail than I do in his book “ To See the Saw Films ”. Unlike Jones though, I am breaking this down to a more understandable level so even if you don’t have a background in philosophy, you can follow what I am saying. Without further ado, let’s jump headfirst into how John Kramer fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism . Basically, Nietzsche understands a passive nihilist to be someone who is angered by the world's attitude towards “fundamental values,” which include but are not limited to their own apathy towards existence. Or, to put it into John Kramer’s terms, they are people who “don’t appreciate their life.” In the Saw films, Kramer is angry over his belief that the majority of people do not appreciate their own existence. To him, the ability to appreciate life is what gives life meaning and purpose. Therefore, if a person takes life for granted, they are considered by Kramer to be goalless. This means his games, traps, etc., are all a ploy (therapy maybe?) to help them realize survival is the only goal in life. Thus, enduring and surviving the game becomes their purpose for existence. credit: Lionsgate Entertainment Do you see how brilliant this is in the mind of Jigsaw? To him, making people play his games forces them into having endurance and survival as their present goal. It makes having purpose a present reality to them. In this way, John Kramer can solve his nihilistic crisis of living in a world where people have no purpose by forcing them into a situation where they have a purpose. The apathy Jigsaw sees in his test subjects is evident throughout the franchise's overarching narrative. Let’s start with Saw (2004) and everyone’s favorite character, Dr. Lawrence (Cary Elwes, of The Princess Bride ). If you recall from the film, his wife, Allison (Monica Potter, of Parenthood ), complains that he makes a façade of being happy, but he is really miserable on the inside. In other words, Dr. Lawrence is dead on the inside and is just going through the motions of life with no passion or purpose. As Lawrence’s game unfolds, we can place it beside Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Anger Management ) and Paul’s (Mike Butters, of The Wonderland Murders ) and see the comparison. Amanda seeks to escape from reality through her drug addiction, and Paul sought to escape life through his suicide attempt. Therefore, to Kramer, Dr. Lawrence's passivity to life is no better than Amanda and Paul’s escapism. But what about Adam ( Saw creator Leigh Whannel)? Did any of you out there ever catch the stark contrast between him and Kramer when it comes to cancer? No? Well, let me point it out to you: When Adam is chained up, he is having a nicotine craving—so much so, he considers smoking a cigarette that may or may not be poisoned. He says he wants “that sweet cancer. I don’t care. I really don’t.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMmrpJDIQEc Do you see it yet? The irony is how passive (in the Nietzschean sense) he is about getting the very disease from which Kramer is dying. Such an attitude and statement from Adam further illuminates why Jigsaw chose him. To further illustrate the passivity of Kramer’s victims, let’s jump ahead to Saw III (2006) and talk about Rigg (Lyriq Bent, of Long Slow Exhale ) and Jeff (Angus Macfadyen, of Outlander ). As a police officer, Rigg has this unwavering compulsion to save everyone. His ongoing frustration in Saw III , however, is that he can’t save everyone. Jeff’s obsession is different. He’s pissed off and angry (maybe rightfully so?) over what he deems as inadequate punishment for the man who killed his son. Though Rigg and Jeff’s compulsions/obsessions are vastly different, their view of the world is the same: Things are flawed and no matter what, they cannot change these conditions. They are chosen to play their games because this type of attitude does not sit well with Jigsaw. According to Kramer, people do have choices and advantages, they just choose not to appropriate them. Kramer views Rigg and Jeff as pathetic, like the rest of humanity, because they view themselves as unable to change the world around them. The victims in the Saw franchise are what we call in biblical scholarly circles a synecdoche. A synecdoche is basically a symbol or example of something that is used to represent the whole. For example, the seven churches in the apostle John’s “Book of Revelation” are not only historical churches but are also meant to represent the worldwide church of all time as a whole. This is what we have taking place in Saw . Kramer’s victim selection is meant to represent the entire populace of humanity. From a passive nihilist perspective, disgust over this type of attitude is pretty normal. In Kramer’s view (and passive nihilism) the loss of truth, value, and meaning no longer create a crisis for humanity and they now just accept it as ordinary life. This is unacceptable for the passive nihilist, and as one, Kramer uses his traps to remedy this apathetic attitude . He wants to jolt his victims out of their apathy over life by placing them in a situation (his traps) where they will have to find value, meaning, and purpose. There is more I could go on about, like whether Jigsaw’s methods truly match his mantra, as well as the flaws in them along with the flaws in nihilism, but that is beyond the scope of these articles. The above is suffice to prove my point that John Kramer shows evidence of being a passive nihilist. Yet there is also another side to Kramer’s nihilism that rears its head in the Saw movies: radical nihilism. And it is this radical nihilism that we will investigate in our next and final post of the series. Until then, read some Neitchsze and watch some Saw movies! Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Stone Deep < Back The OG’s of Rap and Rock Fusion are Back Nicole Brice Jan 11, 2023 Share Stone Deep The late 80s/early 90s was a time when many types of music fused to form new genres. During this time frame, rap music started joining forces with rock to create a new sound—a unique sound, one which had never been heard before. Many consider the merging of RUN-DMC with Aerosmith as the kick-off to it all, but little do people know, there was another band paving the way for this new sound in the early 90s and although they are lesser known, they truly are the OGs of Rap/Rock . Stone Deep was formed in 1992 as a reincarnation of The Hard Corps in Music City USA (Nashville, Tennessee) , the mecca of country music . The Hard Corps rose to national prominence in 1990/1991 with their debut release produced by RUN DMC ’s very own, Jam Master Jay , and they even had the honor of sharing the stage with Ice-T and Body Count as part of their national tour in support of the album, Body Count . The group’s momentum died, though, after their booking agency, label, and management folded overnight and so, in late 1992 , the group’s core members formed what was to become Nashville and later Stone Deep . Photo provided by artist In 1993 , the band began assembling their five-song demo , which was distributed to press outlets, venues, and labels. They also sold it at live performances to fans. With songs such as ' Faces of Death ,' ' Finger to the 40 ,' ' Running Man ,' ' Stop Squawkin ’, and my favorite, ' Whoville ' , they solidified their sound and proved they truly were innovators in the genre of Rap/Rock . After many years of being on hiatus, Stone Deep has re-emerged as of 2022 and are looking to take back their crown as the OGs of the Rap/Rock game , and their sound proves to be unmistakable and full of flavor for your ears. Photo provided by artist I recently reached out to them after discovering their music on Instagram , which if I haven’t said it before, is an excellent space to search for and discover new bands and artists . I had luck and made the acquaintance of guitarist Glen Cummings and vocalist Ronzo “The beast” Cartwright , which turned into an incredibly enjoyable chat and interview. If you haven’t checked out Stone Deep ’s music, it’s a must-do, right after you read this interview. I insist. MaM : Let me just start this by saying that you guys have an incredible story—one that needs to be told, and thank God for Instagram because when I discovered your music, I was like, “Where has this band been all my life?”. You guys truly are the OGs of Rap/Rock. RC : Right! We truly are, but that’s the thing: All the beginners in these genres sort of get pushed under, then the pop versions come out and usually get the recognition and all the attention. MaM : Yes, I can agree with that. I am so impressed with everything you all have accomplished, and the fact that The Hard Corps were signed to Interscope just blew me away, not to mention you had Jam Master Jay producing your debut album, and that is iconic. I wanted to get a little bit of background on that. I want to know your story. RC : Well, it’s a combination of stories, because the first band I was in, The Hard Corps , grew into Stone Deep after merging with Glen Cummings , who was in another band called Scatterbrain , which was a punk/thrash metal band [with] releases out in the U.S. and in Europe. In fact, they had a video out for the song, ' Don’t Call Me Dude ,' which was pretty big. It was combination of all those bands that begat Stone Deep . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxNORotMrks 'Hard Corps' by The Hard Corps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbLhHtaVIO4 'Don't Call Me Dude' by Scatterbrain MaM : Your debut album in 1993 was Nashville , correct? Tell me a little more about that and any subsequent releases, as well as what all was going on around that time. RC : Well, first with the Hard Corps on Interscope in 1991 , we were really building momentum, and [the] big story about that [is] we went out and had Jam Master Jay as our producer, and we actually co-headlined Ice-T’s Body Count tour . … We went out with some other bands such as Primus , Fishbone , and 24-7 Spyz , and we were one of the first hybrid bands wh[o] could play with 3rd Bass and the Geto Boys . [W]e actually opened up for the Geto Boys . I’d been honing my craft for quite some time and so we had that going, and the industry spent a good bit on us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AJgKxx9OuA 'Gangs and the Govt' by Stone Deep There is … a difference between a record budget and a record fund , which people don’t realize. You can get a record fund, and they’ll spend all the money from the first record , and if they feel like they want to keep going, they’ll absorb the money from the second record, and if it don’t [sic] hit, they’ll just move on, but you end up spending the money for both of your records already. That’s what happened with Hard Corps . See, with The Hard Corps , Glen was coming down off Scatterbrain and they had been doing pretty good, but he heard about us in New York and came down after hearing a cassette of our music, which we sent him; he learned it in his car driving down from New York to Nashville . He played the first gig with us without practice. Glen is, literally, a genius. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWuk3j1UjL0 'Anger' by Stone Deep [F]rom that time on, we gathered a couple of other people. Dave Howard is our drummer. He’s a progressive rock drummer, but it fits with us because he’s half Puerto Rican and can connect to the grooves and get heavy when we need to get heavy. Our bass player, Tim Brooks , [is] from a reggae band called Freedom of Expression . He has a lot of reggae chops, but what we all have in common is the rock part. I’ve grown up on rock, basically, since I was a kid and all other types of music. We all blend[ed] together and have been making music ever since. In 1996 , as Stone Deep , we [won] an award for one of the best unsigned bands in America by the NARAS foundation (i.e., the Grammys ), and we were one of the only bands to beat a New York band for that in New York in anything. That was pretty massive there, then we [won] a Nashville music award here, too, for best unsigned band that year. Photo provided by artist MaM : And why are you guys NOT famous? RC : Exactly. And this is a ridiculous story, but there was a millionaire that lived here in Nashville [who] wanted some bands to play for some underprivileged kids. [H]e started asking all over and since he had money, people were telling him, ‘I’ll do it for $5,000,’ [just] to get money off him. [W]e were like, ‘It’s kids?’ and he was like, ‘Yeah,’ so I told him, ‘Bring the kids up to our studio, and we’ll play for them.” So, we played for them and modified our songs up to incorporate the kids, and I did a little freestyle and stuff. The guy was really appreciative, and he started asking questions about us, about our demo and stuff, and he felt like he needed to help us, so he gave us some money. At first, he was like, ‘I’ll give you $20,000 or something,’ and his best friend was there and [said], ‘No one builds anything off of $20,000. You’ve got a shit-ton of money. You’ve gotta do something.’ [S]o, long story short, he comes up with $100,000, no [real] strings [attached other than playing] for his kids once a year. No payback. Nothing. No publishing. Nothing … but guess what happened then? MaM : What happened? RC : The manager stole our money. MaM : Wow, story of my life. You hear that stuff happening all the time. RC : It’s the same music story of all time that happens all the time. You remember when people were doing the smaller versions of Bonnaroo ? Well, he was trying to do one of those and stuck our money into that [to] flip it, and it tanked … and our money tanked with it. [H]e never asked permission to do it and then he just disappeared. Photo credit: Facebook MaM : Wow, man. That sucks. RC : That deflated everything for a while, so everyone just went about their business after that. [W]e’re brothers, so we always stayed, you know, connected. [A]nd then, just a little while back, I was talking to Glen and he said, ‘You know, I was listening to our music and what we were saying then needs to be said now, because kids these days don’t say anything.’ Like, the labels have got[sic] everyone to where they just encourage you to be only gangsta or weird, and you can’t really say anything. MaM : Yeah, everything is prefabricated, and that’s what I hate about the music industry these days. That’s why I started this magazine with Keeley. We want to focus on the real talent out there. RC : Nice. We started getting [our groove] back and putting some of [our music] back online, and we started finding people, like you, who are saying, ‘[H]ey! Where has this been? This is what we need right now.” MaM : It’s true. RC : It’s been great. Like, everything has its own time, and the universe works in a certain way , ya know? [E]ven though it might not have been your time then, it might be your time now. Lately, I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night to write down songs, because the energy being produced by me and us doing our songs has been inspirational. People think you can learn to be an artist, but it is a gift. You either have it or you don’t. You can prefabricate it in a studio, like you can have someone throw something together just to make you something, but artist “artists” are just energy driven from the universe. Photo provided by artist MaM : I completely agree with that. As I’ve been listening to your music—and I’m sure you’ve gotten this comparison before--it reminds me of when Anthrax teamed up with Public Enemy , only better because that was only temporary; your music is not. You guys are the real deal … the true OGs of Rap/Rock. RC : Yeah, if you put the time into everything, it really comes together. [S]ee, when we came out, there were no Limp Bizkits and there was no Kid Rock , but Kid Rock was around; he just wasn’t really doing what we were doing, and it’s not fused the way ours is. Ours is natural, organic. Like with me, I’m a rocker who raps; see what I’m saying? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNHLNyBKpaM MaM : I miss that type of rap and that type of flow, and I miss the lyrics that have meaning. Like, I listen to all types of music, but I’m big on lyrics and if you look in my music collection, you’ll see all the hip-hop and rap I have is from late 1980s to mid-90s, and then I stopped listening to it. I couldn’t listen to it anymore. I don’t want to listen to you talking about putting jewels in your watch; like, where’s the meaning in that? And to this day, and I listen to them daily, my fave hip-hop group is A Tribe Called Quest . I miss groups like that … and Instagram, to be honest, is the best way to discover new artists like that. RC : Yeah, it really is. Instagram has been great and to be honest, our following has definitely grown because of it. People just checking out tidbits and that type of thing. We actually got [contacted by] a guy [who] does these weird videos. [H]e does [them] for Rob Zombie and he’s making these little shorts of some of our songs. Then we have this one Japanese guy who is making Japanese versions of our t-shirts, and it’s just a lot of stuff that people vibe with and are getting into it. MaM : I saw that you guys have some re-mastered recordings of the albums you dropped in the 90s. You did that through a record store day release recently, right? RC : We actually are connected to a lot of big mixing and studio guys, just by virtue. Shawn Franklin is one of them and he does stuff with Public Enemy . They just started mixing and started getting it up to date to put it out bigger and bolder, and we’ve been pretty blessed on that end. MaM : If someone wants to purchase your music, is Bandcamp the only way, or is there another way? RC : Right now, only on Bandcamp . We’re going to go through all the iterations of music, and we are going to put out CD’s and then more digital releases and then finally vinyl albums. It’s going to come out on all platforms. Right now, we’re trying to generate interest and we want to get a following of like-minded people, ‘cause [sic] there are millions of us and that’s the thing with Instagram and places like that: It connects a lot of countries together as opposed to your local neighborhood or a couple of states in America . You can get everybody involved. Everybody who likes what you do. We’re still looking for some good solid platforms to release on. MaM : Well, I look forward to seeing everything you guys have coming out and I want to say that the animated videos on Instagram are awesome. Can you tell me a little more about how you hooked up with the guy behind those? RC : Glen found him; he’s located in Hungary . His name is Balázs Gróf . He listened to our music and offered to do a couple of snippets. He’s an award-winning music videographer, cartoonist, and animator . He’s done stuff for Rob Zombie , Amon Amarth , Obituary , Testament , William Shatner , and Red Fang , and now us. We told him to do it your way, and we want people to express us as they hear us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7qNxOkWCxE 'Stop Squawkin' by Stone Deep MaM : Ok, so I think I have one last question for you guys. Where do you see yourself headed in the future with the current trajectory? RC : I see us doing independent releases, some strong indie releases, and doing some touring. I’m really interested in doing some European festivals and stuff, and we’re at a good position in our lives where we can pick and choose what we want to do, which is good, but I’m personally interested to see how many of “us” there are out there. Does that make sense? I want to reach the maximum amount of people that enjoy what we do and understand the messages that we put out. To experience Stone Deep’s music and to show them some love, visit them online at: Facebook : Stone Deep, Nashville | Nashville TN | Facebook Instagram : Stone Deep (@stone_deep_nashville) • Instagram photos and videos Bandcamp : Nashville (EP) | Stone Deep (bandcamp.com) YouTube : Stone Deep - YouTube 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

Brax isn’t afraid to experiment with new textures and sounds. < Back Floating Above the Bayou: Brax is Elevating Southern Cloud Rap to New Heights Nicole Brice Apr 5, 2025 Share Brax isn’t afraid to experiment with new textures and sounds. One thing I love about music is that no matter how much you think you’ve heard, there is always something new to discover. Hip-hop and rap are fascinating genres that have evolved through many different styles over the years. As time passes, the younger generations continue to find ways to make these genres even more distinctive. I recently came across a musician named Brax . Brax hails from New Orleans , a city not typically recognized for its hip-hop and rap scenes, yet he has discovered his calling within the underground music community. His stage performances transcend hip-hop and traditional rap ; they are pure artistry . He incorporates theatrical elements into each show, even using fake blood as a visual tool to enhance the experience. Credit: Gary Governale When you meet Brax for the first time, his vibrant energy instantly draws you in. He exudes a unique combination of fragility and resilience , coupled with a depth of wisdom . At just 18 years old, he is articulate and insightful , sharing narratives that stem from the pain he has experienced throughout his life. His work is rich in emotion and heart. Brax isn’t afraid to experiment with different textures and sounds . Each piece he creates is distinct from the last. With a diverse sound that appeals to a broad audience, his goal is to create art that resonates with the masses in a direct and impactful way . This is his story. Read on below. MaM : Thank you for joining us today. Your music is genuinely heartfelt and emotional. You can feel the pain in the lyrics. Brax : Man, yeah, thank you. It’s all based upon life. When I was younger, I went through a lot, and when I was 13, I had a lot of problems with substances. It’s been more of a journalism self-reflection thing than it has been to make a quick buck with music. It’s been a way to express myself. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Tell us a little more about yourself – your background and age. Brax : I’m 18 and have been doing live performances as Brax for two years, but I’ve been recording and releasing music for over five years now. I have a lengthy discography , which I think works great for live shows, and it took me a long time to find my sound. Have you looked back at all the older music? MaM : I have, and I listened to the new single . You've adjusted your sound a bit on that. Brax : Yeah, I feel like it keeps evolving. I’ve done alternative rock in the past, but it wasn’t the same type of shoegaze type stuff I’m doing now. It’s part of the self-reflection thing, too, because I’ll never feel again how I felt at 15. MaM : Of course – you change. Brax : That’s what the whole project of Teenage Delerium is about. I completed three years of high school instead of four, and graduated early because I began performing live shows out of state. I attend college and work currently, but the entire album is about the transition to adulthood , as I took music so seriously. Now, I’m trying to transition into the “real world” while still in college. It’s a lot of work. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : You’re putting in the work the right way. Keep going and you will see the results. Brax : Yeah, cause you could go viral, and it means nothing. Before I started performing live shows, I had an internet presence with around 8,000 monthly listeners for my music. Still, I wanted to transition away from being an internet-based artist . The New Orleans rap scene is primarily an internet-based scene , with live shows occurring occasionally, but it doesn’t consistently draw large crowds like other scenes. They have one or two shows a year, maybe, that will draw anywhere from 50 to 500 people per show, but unless you have a mainstream artist as the headliner, even those flop sometimes. The NOLA underground is all internet-based , which kind of sucks for the live music version of it. MaM : Let’s talk about your new song some more. I really dig the sound on this track, and it reminds me of this indie hip-hop artist I encountered in 2023 called tmdistant . He uses the shoegaze sound with hip-hop, and it’s incredible. Will you continue this new direction in your music, or are you just experimenting with it for now? Brax : It usually happens by accident. I like experimenting as an artist, and even my live performances are not straight rap . We bring in things like doors, and we break furniture, and it becomes more of a performance art . Sometimes I’m even covered in fake blood . It’s super punk and hardcore , and emotional . If I’m feeling rock music at a moment, then I’ll drop one project with that sound. That’s what the A Walk with Sadie EP was. It was a 3-song project . Just something different. A different sound. A different vibe. That’s the type of music I want to make. MaM : What type of music do you listen to in your everyday life? Brax : I listen to everything. Artist-wise, it’s Mac Miller and Yung Lean . ASAP Rocky , definitely, but I also like things like Jefferson Airplane , some country , a lot of psychedelic rock . I also like the Red Hot Chili Peppers . MaM : You sound like me. You listen to a little of everything. Brax : Yeah, I like to be well-versed. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Same Brax : Yeah, especially as a rapper, I love working with all the bands because the band scene is so much more established than any rap scene here. I just did an almost sold-out show in Pensacola , and it was me with three other metal bands . It’s about building your scene. It just takes a while, though. As you mentioned earlier, regarding instant validity and building a presence , I’ve been around for two years , technically, on the scene as a live artist . Still, it’s as if in those two years, I have been pushing myself, not just here in Louisiana , but also in other states. It takes a good year to get your toes in the water. I’m building my foundation. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : How would you describe the type of music you make for someone not familiar? Brax : That’s a good one. One word. Realism. MaM : I think that fits accurately. Brax : I love art – Vincent Van Gogh , stuff like that, and honestly, I’ve been feeling like I can understand where he was with his art, and I relate it to Southern Cloud rap or Cloud rap . MaM : Take us through your songwriting process. Do you produce the music yourself, or do you have someone assist you? Brax : My beats consist of me crawling YouTube for hours and hours on the pages of producers I know, and so I’ll scroll to find that “needle in a haystack”, ya know? I write everything, and record and mix my vocals from my bedroom. Credit: Gary Governale MaM : That’s incredible. I love that DIY aesthetic . What is the primary theme in your music, do you find? Brax : Well, because it’s self-journalism , it’s hard to say. It’s just channeling my emotions. Storytelling. Expressing myself and documenting my life through music . MaM : When you perform live, do you do the vocals live, or do you rap over your vocals? There is a whole movement of “real MCs don’t rap over vocals”, and I wanted to get your perspective on that. Brax : I feel like my job, at the end of the day, is to be an entertainer , and I use backtracking , but I use it because I scream in my performances. Sometimes I may forget a word here or there, too, and when you’re screaming like the punk bands, you need that music to be in the background. We get crazy with it at the house shows, which I’m sure you’ve seen on YouTube . Credit: Gary Governale MaM : Oh yeah, I have. Brax : Right, and at the end of the day, you’re an entertainer , and you want it to be the best performance . My aesthetic is to get up, move around, and break shit. MaM : How has booking been going for this upcoming tour? Have you run into any issues? Brax : I do all my booking, for the most part, but things haven’t been bad this go-round. MaM : What would you like to achieve in 2025? Brax : I want to get into Houston more. That’s the plan, and I’m pushing for that. I also want to keep building my presence around the South . Keep building the Southern Cloud rap scene around the South . As Brax continues his hustle as an artist and musician , he stands poised to bring his musical story to the masses, and we look forward to watching the journey unfold. Check out his unique brand of Southern rap via all streaming services. To learn more about Brax: Website: Brax | Music Instagram: Brax (@braxfromdagrave) • Instagram photos and videos Apple Music: ‎Brax - Apple Music *All photos by Gary Governale www.governalephotovideo.com Zenfolio | Home I have been working as a video professional since 1993, with a wide range of experience writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing. A strong interest in videography, specifically lighting and composition, led me to photography in 1998. Rapidly changing technology has blurred the line between video and photography, allowing me to work in both mediums.. Baton Rouge, LA, United States www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions < Back Off the Charts: Local Rock ‘n Roll Takes Over Mars Music Hall Bud Gambrell Apr 11, 2025 Share Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions Is it possible to go to a party and not realize it is a party until you get there? I would say that is a tremendous yes! That is precisely what happened this past Saturday Night. This story begins on March 10, 2025 . I was surfing social media, searching for funny memes, when I came across a friend of mine, Mike Slaten ’s page. He had just announced that his production company had assembled a local concert at Mars Music Hall , part of the Von Braun Center . If your first guess is that I reached out to inquire whether they needed a photographer, you would be spot on. You think you’re getting to know me a little, huh? We can now fast forward to April 5, 2025 . It’s the day of the concert, and like most other shows I photograph, I arrive early. It was almost straightaway that I noticed that the atmosphere was very comfortable. It had the feeling that everyone there was friends. That impression was accurate. I learned from chatting with the musicians that many of them have worked together before, which adds great chemistry to the evening! Some had not, but everyone was fast friends when showtime came around. Also, everyone’s friend Bill Neal was in attendance backstage. Bill and his son Tracer (that name is a secret identity) produce a podcast called Pickletato . They were present to broadcast live teasers for the concert throughout the afternoon. You will soon learn more about Pickletato . First, we'll have a chance to catch up with Bill a little later in this article, so stay tuned! Second, I'm excited to share that I'll join the podcast Pickletato for a recording next week! I can't wait to dive into some fun discussions and explore new topics together. Stay tuned for that also. I plan to write an entertaining article about them and share their goals on their podcast. I can't wait to dive into their story! Tonight’s concert is named Rocket City Night of Rock N’ Roll , presented by Mike Slaten Productions . The show would consist of four local bands . Opening the night would be The Shoals' own Blind the Sky . Second on the stage will be a Huntsville favorite, Angry Native . The third act will be Mike Slaten’s band Tres Locos . I know. I thought the same thing. Mike organized the show, and his band didn’t headline. More on that later. Our headliner is New Atomic . Get ready because this night is chock-full of talent! Before I dive in, I want to give a massive shoutout to all the fantastic members of the four bands for making me feel so welcome. You all are awesome! You are all exceptional musicians, and even more importantly, you are outstanding individuals! Entertainment Booking & Event Manager, Craig Maples , and Mike Slaten of Mike Slaten Productions co-organized the Rocket City Night of Rock' N 'Roll concert. I spoke with the VBC and Mike to learn about this show. VBC’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations , Samantha Nielsen , gave me the venue's perspective. SN : The VBC focuses on bringing national touring acts to Mars Music Hall ; however, when we have open weekend dates, we love taking those opportunities to support our community’s local artists! Mars is a fantastic venue that is plug-and-play with our audio and visual setup, so the local acts have a unique experience to not only perform on the same stage as some of their favorite touring bands, but they also receive the complete rock-star treatment with tour-quality lighting and sound, as well as utilizing the backstage area and dressing rooms. In my discussion with Mike Slaten , he informed me of how it came to be from his side. MS : Last month, the VBC hosted a local show called the Anti Valentine's Day show with five local bands . Basically, Craig and the guys at Mars and the VBC said they were tired of the venue sitting empty in between when big national touring acts are coming through. They wanted to try to get people into the venue. It's a great venue! It doesn't need to sit here, taking up space and trying to generate revenue. So, they held that concert, and I think 400 or 500 people showed up. It was an excellent turnout. Everybody involved, you know, benefited from it. Samantha with the VBC went on to tell me. SN : For us, these local shows are a win-win all around. They’re great for the artists, get people inside the venue on what would otherwise be off nights, and allow us to host amazing shows for the community that are often free and for all ages. OTC : Mike, where did it all begin for you? MS : I've been talking to many VBC guys for years. Whenever any big show comes through, I ask, “Hey, you need an opener?” The answer is usually "no." When I learned about last month’s local show, I got back in touch and said, I'd like to put on a show here. When the first show went well, they hit me up and said they had a date available. I tried to pick out some of the best bands. Of course, I didn't get all of them. Hopefully, tons of great bands are on the list for future shows. We put together what I think is a very unique, diverse show of great local rock bands. And then everybody just started promoting and sharing, and the response has been excellent so far. So we're hoping for a good turnout. To give you a little background, I have been working with the VBC for the last few years as one of their pool of event photographers. I talk to Samantha often as she handles our bookings. The entire VBC staff is fantastic to work with! Unsurprisingly, they are opening the doors to our city’s wonderfully talented musicians! OTC : Mike, how did you decide on which bands to have for tonight? MS : So, it's bands that we have played with before and are friends with. There are a lot of other bands that we're friends with and have played with, but these are some of the bands that were available on this particular date, and you know, bands that we've built a good friendship with. I thought these bands would help bring in a good crowd and put on a great show. These are bands that I think deserve to be on a big stage in front of a good crowd and get to have an opportunity like this. OTC : Have you played at Mars before? MS : Once, Tres Locos played here. I think it was 2021 . They were doing local bands only during the pandemic. It was tables six feet apart and all that kind of stuff. You know, trying to get some people in during that time, and of course, it was still in the pandemic, so few people showed up. OTC : So, you played here once. I would guess there were a lot of nerves playing this stage for the first time. Now, you're coming back for a second time. Do you feel more relaxed so you can get out there and kick it up a notch? MS : Yeah, I think so. I mean, for me personally, I think there's always a little bit of nerves, especially if you're on a bigger stage or you have a really big crowd. Years ago, I learned from teachers and other people with more experience that nervousness is good if it's a nervous energy . It's good to direct that positively instead of letting it debilitate you to the point where you can't get up, perform, sing, or whatever. So yeah, there's always a little bit of nerves, but really just excitement. OTC : I'm familiar with your band, Tres Locos. I have also seen Angry Native before. I know what to expect from those two bands. It's going to be good! Now, I'm not familiar with the other two. Please tell me what I can expect from those other two bands playing tonight. MS : Alright, so Blind the Sky is from the Shoals area. If you know anything about musicians, bands, and people from there, it seems there’s something in the water. Every musician or band we've played with is from that area; there is something different about them. They are a two-piece band. They don't have a live drummer. They have drums programmed into their pedal boards, and it's incredible! They're phenomenal musicians! They are two guys who sometimes sound like a five or six-piece band. They've got keyboards programmed in the pedals. The bass player will play something that sounds like he's playing the piano. Epic, epic music, great songwriting. That's about the best way I can describe them. Then, New Atomic . They're the headliner. I think they started in 2020 , if I'm not mistaken. They've built a pretty substantial following in Huntsville . They play Furniture Factory , The Lone Goose , and Back 40 . You know, a lot of those places draw a vast crowd . They're fun! They're younger guys, so they attract a younger crowd, a younger audience. They're mostly playing originals, but they play a lot of stuff from the '90s at many of their bar gigs around town. They play Jimmy Eat World , Incubus , and Foo Fighters . They're really good and really fun. They play with a lot of energy, and many people around here like them. OTC : So, if I'm getting this right, you picked the bands, but your band is not the headliner. MS : Correct. I picked New Atomic to headline because I feel like they have a bigger local draw. The band will bring the most significant portion of the crowd. I think they should. They should headline the show. OTC : So, you were playing the odds. MS : Yep! As I mentioned earlier, Bill Neal from the podcast Pickletato was in attendance. I first met Bill at The Alabama Smoke Show in 2024 . That show was also at Mars Music Hall and highlighted some excellent local bands. Bills’ podcast does a fantastic job of highlighting local bands on a personal level. The podcast has grown to include live performances of the bands during their interviews. We will cover this a lot closer in an upcoming article. Of course, since Bill was in attendance, I had to ask him for his input on the concert we were attending. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Z1LMbh4NM The Pickletato Podcast OTC : Bill, tell me what brings Pickletato here tonight. BN : Mike Slaten invited me. The reason he invited me is that Mike and I are good friends, and he wanted to know if I could help him, you know, promote the event and be able to do the interviews like I did earlier. I'm just trying to get the word out as much as possible so we can do this in the future. I think the outcome of what happens tonight, although we have some possible lousy weather coming in, will probably not be as good as we thought it would be. Maybe, maybe not. I might be wrong, but I think this weather coming in might be an issue. But I think the outcome is going to lead him to being able to bring local musicians into these types of venues again. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Are you familiar with the four bands playing tonight? BN : The only one I’m unfamiliar with is Blind the Sky . I think they're out of Muscle Shoals . Mike introduced me to them. When he said they would be on, I listened to some of their songs because I hadn't heard them. I really like their stuff! Hopefully, I can get those guys on our podcast in the future. We're pretty booked up for a good three months, but we will try to get those guys on there in the future. I'm very familiar with Tres Locos and Angry Native . I’ve known Flip and those guys for quite a while now. New Atomic . I just had those guys on the podcast, which hasn’t been released yet. It should be out here in the next week or so. Great group of guys! Sitting in with those guys was like watching brothers talk to each other, and seeing that many people in a band love each other so much was cool! You know, some bands barely even look at each other. But you can tell that those guys are tight. I think one of the reasons is that, as they said in an interview, they didn't really want to do this to get big or anything. They just wanted to be with friends and have a good time! I think that it shows with their music when they're playing. OTC : What do you think we're in store for tonight? Do you think there should be more people here tonight? BN : Oh, absolutely! More people should be here. I mean, this place should be packed! I wish this whole thing were being recorded. It's hard for a two-person team to record something this big, but it would be nice to have something like this recorded so people can see the quality of musicians that these guys are and the show they will be missing. A lot of these guys have their original songs. In my opinion, it should be at the top of the charts. They have some really good original songs that you know they’ll be playing tonight, so everybody and their brother should be here! This article has so much visual content that I can show you. I can show you the concert flyers, the stage, and how good they looked on stage. I can even show you backstage, where most people rarely get to see. The one thing I can’t show you, and I’m not sure I can precisely describe to you, is the camaraderie . Backstage is not where I often hang out but tonight was one of those nights when I did. I have seen bands use different green rooms, but I have noticed that they stay separate. The bands at The Rocket City Night of Rock N’ Roll were a fun mix of different styles, making every performance a unique experience! There is one thing that I have always enjoyed about a band playing live. That one thing is being able to tell that they enjoy what they do. I love seeing musicians enjoy what they are doing. I observed so much of that at this show. That enjoyment was backstage as well as on stage. Well done, guys! 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 https://www.facebook.com/bud.gambrell My new book: Bud Gambrell Photography by Bud Gambrell | Blurb Books Where to find Mike Slaten Productions and Tres Locos: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1a5sMDVmAr/ https://www.facebook.com/share/1MSQ3QuxVh/ Where to find Blind the Sky: Facebook: Facebook Website; Blind The Sky | Rock Band Muscle Shoals Where to find Angry Native: Facebook: Facebook Where to find New Atomic: Facebook: Facebook Where to find Pickletato: YouTube: Pickletato - YouTube Facebook: Facebook *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. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Do you have something you'd like Bud to cover? Reach out to him at the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Anna Byars is an inspiration for future generations of female musicians < Back Anna Byars: A True Musical Luminary Nicole Brice Aug 25, 2023 Share Anna Byars is an inspiration for future generations of female musicians You may have seen her around town since she has been a fixture on the local music scene in Baton Rouge for many years starting in the early 2000s, and you may know her as the guitarist and background vocalist for Polly Pry , but who is Anna Byars , truly? Credit: Gary Governale Byars is kind and genuine in addition to being extremely witty, funny, and charming ; she is bursting with personality . Anna holds her own as an extraordinarily gifted musician and guitarist captivating audiences with her soulful melodies and masterful skills, but she does not limit herself to just one instrument: She also played drums in a band called The Rakers . “I like to say I’m a drummer as a second language because the guitar is my first language,” Byars says. With a unique blend of talent, passion, and authenticity, she has carved her path through the bustling music scene in South Louisiana , leaving a lasting impression and continuing to forge ahead. Credit: Gary Governale Anna Byars was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , in a musically inclined family and started honing her craft at a very young age. Both of her parents are professional musicians and play piano. Gravitating towards the guitar, she picked up a random one under her mom’s piano one day and that was all it took. At 10 years old, Anna officially started strumming and loved it because of the emotional depth and versatility it offers. After proving to her mother that she indeed had plans to stick with it, she began to take professional classical guitar lessons at age 12. With a knack for sight-reading music, Anna built the foundation for her guitar knowledge. Growing up in a house where her mother taught piano lessons, Byars started writing songs and singing and says of the time, “It was the 90s, you know, and we were all dreaming of making it big. I kept playing and performing wherever I could, and then in college I knew I wanted to get a band together.” During her teenage years, her passion for music fully ignited, and after meeting her bass player for her first band just after she turned 19, Byars met her drummer, too, and all the pieces fell into place. This ultimately led to the formation of The Anna Byars Band . Drawing inspiration early on from the music that inspired her as a child, such as the Indigo Girls and Green Day , and consisting of all original music, the band flourished for a few years before calling it quits. After college in 2005 is when Anna met Kristen Foster , and they instantly hit it off. “We fell in love as friends, just super hard,” says Byars, and with Foster’s ukulele in hand, the two embarked on a career together. “She played me one of the songs she had written called ‘The Atlantic Ocean’ and it was just so damn good that I forced her to start a band with me.” The rest is history. Credit: Gary Governale Calling themselves The Casuals at first, Byars and Foster put out a couple of EPs together after recording in a makeshift studio and practice space located behind the now-defunct legendary music venue in Baton Rouge known as The Caterie . After seeing modest success with their initial run of EPs, the women decided to team up with Foster’s father , renowned music producer Fred Foster , who is best known for producing classic recordings for Roy Orbison and for helping found Orbison’s label, Monument Records . He also helped launch the careers of Dolly Parton , Tony Joe White , and Kris Kristofferson in addition to co-writing the classic song made famous by Janis Joplin , ' Me and Bobby McGee '. “Yeah, every time I tell people [that], I’m like, ‘It’s okay if you don’t believe me because I barely do,” says Anna. “We threw ourselves into it until he liked what he heard and invited us up.” Anna and Kristen then went up to Nashville to record and in 2012 , the album Two Warm Minutes was released. Released August 17, 2012 After its initial release, Anna and Kristen saw modest success with the record, but they felt it did not truly capture their essence, so they took to the road to play live shows and build their following. At 29 years old, Anna embarked on her first tour with Polly Pry , which saw them adding a double bass player to make their duo a trio. “And after that, I just really knew in my soul that I just did not want to do the singer/songwriter thing, even if it was as a duo,” so Anna switched gears and stopped playing acoustic guitar and switched over to electric. “When you play acoustic guitar, and you’re female, you get pigeonholed.” By meticulously studying the techniques of her idols and incorporating her own artistic sensibilities, Byars managed to create a sound that is entirely her own—a sound that resonates with listeners on a profound level. The year 2016 brought about Polly Pry contributing to a compilation of Aerosmith cover songs called Deuces are Wild: A Tribute to Aerosmith , which is currently available for listening to on Apple Music. Since then, the ladies have continued to play shows here and there while working on their follow-up album, Hola Perfecto . The release date for their sophomore effort is to be determined, so stay tuned. When Anna is not devoting her time to Polly Pry , she plays guitar in her other project, Sunrise People , which, according to Byars , “sounds like a band that would play CBGBs in the 70s.” On her involvement with Sunrise People , Anna goes on to say, “I really love playing guitar in that band because I get to take all my years of everything and just fly, you know? It’s just right.” Byars possesses an uncanny ability to create a profound connection with her audience through her music. Listeners feel the raw emotions she channels through her guitar playing, carrying them on a hypnotic journey. Her ability to convey a range of emotions that encompasses joy, sorrow, nostalgia, and everything in between creates an intimate bond that transcends typical boundaries. Credit: Gary Governale Beyond being gifted with extraordinary talent, Anna is constantly seeking growth and evolution. She embraces any opportunity to experiment with new sounds, techniques, and genres and has been steadily writing songs. “My body and brain just started writing songs about six months ago and I’m in an infant stage of trying to get 12 solid songs. I want to be a little bit of Juliana Hatfield mixed with a little Radiohead,” she says. “I want to do another band. I’m playing with names, but I am really excited about the stuff that I have been writing.” With a promising future ahead of her and so many projects in the works, Anna comments on her work ethic: “I have always dug my heels right in whether it’s right or wrong,” and continuing to dig her heels in is just what she has been doing. In addition to music, she stays busy by making comedic shorts on TikTok as well. “I have sort of a hobby in comedy. I like to put on wigs and make up funny characters and put out snappy videos.” When asked whether she has considered stand-up comedy as a possible career move, Byars elaborates, “You know, I did stand-up one time and I’ve lived my life on stage, or so it seems, but doing stand-up was one of the most terrifying experiences and I’m not scared of performing. I really want to press myself to do that, but doing stand-up does require rigor and focus. Everything must flow and work. Kristen has been inspiring my world with her stand-up career, so you never know!” When Byars isn’t focused on music, she prefers to play pinball and has even created her own Ladies’ Pinball Club at local hangout BR.cade , which is located on Government Street in Baton Rouge . Credit: Gary Governale “I like to say it’s a ladies’ pinball club but that guys are welcome, too. My motto is ‘no pressure, we’ll always be there.’ I just started playing pinball one day and noticed that it’s all dudes [and] no girls. They would stand to the side, and I think that’s because pinball doesn’t look like it’s as much fun as it really is. You gotta put your hands on the machine. It’s a physical thing. It’s an arcade game, but it’s not a video game.” To get her club started, Anna says she would purposely leave extra credits and games on the machines so she could approach people to play games with her. This proved to be successful, and an official Pinball Club was formed in late 2022/early 2023. “It’s my one-year anniversary of playing, but the club has been around for about 4-6 months,” she says. Anna modestly acknowledges her mad pinball skills, but I got to witness them firsthand and she’s pretty damn good. “Yeah, I’ve gone to a couple of tournaments, and for a little while, I was the number seven female player in Mississippi. In Louisiana, I’ve placed last, and I believe they call it The Plunger Award when you place last.” On whether she has plans to continue playing in the future, she says, “It’s such a new thing, though, and I love it and am just trying to get better at it.” Credit: Gary Governale So, in conclusion, who is Anna Byars , really? She’s a true musical luminary and her boundless creativity and commitment to her art ensure that her journey as a musician will remain one that captivates and inspires for years to come. Through her unique style and collaborative spirit, she has successfully set herself apart on the local scene. As she continues to evolve and explore new frontiers, she will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the music world, inspiring future generations of female musicians to follow in her footsteps. To check out Anna’s projects and music, hit one of the links below and be sure to catch her in action with Sunrise People on September 1, 2023 at Midcity Ballroom in Baton Rouge with William Edward Thompson and The Rakers . To learn more about Anna Byars: Polly Pry Apple Music : ‎Polly Pry on Apple Music Polly Pry Facebook : Facebook Sunrise People : Facebook *All photos shot on location at BR Cade 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

Alabama Smoke Show proves that the future of music in Huntsville is bright! < Back Off The Charts: Alabama Smoke Show Bud Gambrell Aug 1, 2024 Share Alabama Smoke Show proves that the future of music in Huntsville is bright! On June 20, 2024, I booked a photography gig for the Alabama Smoke Show at the VBC Mars Music Hall in Huntsville, Alabama . At that time, I wasn't sure what it would be. I thought that I was booking just another show. To my surprise, this was more than just another show. As I looked closer at the lineup, I saw some familiar names. Several artists I knew were playing. You may have become familiar with Brandon Elder in my last article, and you’ll hear more from him in this piece. Yours truly arrived early to learn more about the Alabama Smoke Show, where I found my way backstage to spend time with old friends and make some new ones. Of course, one of the people I had to hunt down was my new friend, Brandon Elder. After my last article on Brandon , our paths crossed several more times in public. Isn't it wild how life works sometimes? I pulled Brandon aside first and asked his view on The Alabama Smoke Show. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Brandon, what have you been up to since we last spoke? BE : Man, I'm just gigging and trying to stay out there. I've been looking forward to this show! OTC : For those who may not know, tell us what the Alabama Smoke Show is. BE : So, I think this is the first year that they've done the Smoke Show, and it's just a lot of local, good guys just coming together and trying to put some country music together that people will enjoy. It's also a chance for all the local artists that play to take a breath for a minute and get to hang out and just have a night together. We don't get to see each other a whole lot. We all know each other, but we never see each other. We're all playing at different venues, so the Alabama Smoke Show is where we can get together, have a good night, and play music. OTC : There is a lot of talent on that stage tonight. What does it mean to you to be playing on that stage tonight? BE : Honestly, I'm just happy to be here! Most of the guys who will be on stage tonight are buddies of mine. There are only a couple of them that I have never met. Three of them went to the same high school I went to, so it's fun to be with these guys who share my interests, enjoy the music, and have a good time. As I was hanging out backstage talking to the artists, I managed to find the organizer for the Smoke Show. When I learned who it was and dug deeper, I was surprised by a few things, mainly his age. At 18 years old, Jonah Evans put together The Alabama Smoke Show. Unbelievable. Jonah organized the event, booked the bands, and sang in the headlining band. He has been super busy leading up to the Smoke Show. OTC : What led you to want to organize The Alabama Smoke Show? JE : I'd say there are just a lot of young guys in Huntsville, in the North Alabama area, that people have turned their heads to because we're, you know, we're young. We should be heard because we are talented musicians, and I think we can hang with pretty much anybody. I want to let it be known. OTC : How did you decide on the artists to invite? JE : We opened for 5ive O'clock Charlie in Falkville, so I've been friends with Mike for about two years, and he told me he had a son named Jude. And then I knew Dylan through Jude because they were in a band called the Debriefers. Brandon and I went to the same elementary and high schools. I found Caleb on TikTok and became good friends with him. Then Dawson Slade I saw him on American Idol . He's my age, and he's good! And then Kade Pierce hit me on Facebook a while ago and wanted to write something. He's got some pretty dad-gum good songs, so I'll have him out for the writer's round. And then came Kam [Jones] , who was big in the Huntsville scene, and Jude told me I must get this guy because he's got some pretty good songs, too. I love original music, so anybody who can write a good song will like it, and I will try to help them out the best I can. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Now, Jonah, walk me through the process and the time it took to put this all together. JE : OK, I had this big show idea about a month and a half ago for a prominent global young artist showcase, and I wanted it to include everyone young and coming up—you know, the next generation of young Huntsville staples. I tried everywhere I thought would say yes, and my last shot was the Von Braun Center . I just sent the email, man, and it went straight from there. OTC : You must be kidding me! With this much talent, this show took only a month and a half to assemble. JE : Yeah, that was a month and a half of work. I did a lot of behind-the-scenes work, but we sold out the whole top row about an hour after tickets went on sale. It'll have a bigger turnout next year. I know it. Don't get me wrong, it was a great turnout this year, especially for something only advertised for a month, but I anticipate bigger crowds. The plan is to get a date down in December next year, and we'll have a lot more time to advertise. Credit: Bud Gambrell While I was hanging out backstage, I ran into Bill Neal. Our ventures are similar because we both aim to promote artists and music. Bill runs a podcast called Pickletato . Trust me on this. It is a fun podcast. I will leave a link at the end of the story. OTC : Bill, tell me what you are doing tonight representing the Pickletato podcast. BN : So, tonight was the first time we went live. We were going to go live on YouTube, but we had some technical issues we weren't prepared for. We tried testing this out two or three days ago but couldn't get YouTube to work for reasons beyond our control. We were able to go live on Facebook , though. We just wanted to show people familiar with us some backstage stuff happening and get people out here for the Alabama Smoke Show . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-KtaobRGSU OTC : What is the overall goal for your podcast? BN : The overall goal is to get the podcast as big as possible. Once again, it's not selfish; the reason is that when somebody comes on the podcast, we want them to be exposed as much as possible. We're not getting any income from this. It's all on us. That shows people that we're not doing it to become Joe Rogan or anything like that. The main goal for the editor and I is that when we bring someone on the show, it will show their talent and story. OTC : Tell me how Pickletato began and why you do it. BN : My son and I discussed it in October and November 2023. Something happened to me that made me think, man, I know many people who have some great stories, and I needed to get these people out there because they should be famous for their actions. Some of their stories are just phenomenal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0fqrDyKE2A OTC : After launching it, have you changed how you produce the podcast? BN : If you compare the first season to what we're doing now regarding the intros, the outros, and the editing, the video is much better than it was in the first season. It has turned into something that we're proud of. So, we initially talked to a couple of people around here. 'Hey man, I want to start a podcast, but I want to do it because I want to get your story out there.' We just started talking to people, and they agreed. We didn't want any money, while we didn't have any money. After the first season, we're like, man, we got some excellent stories here. Let's step our game up with each season. So, for the second season, we invested in better cameras, and this season, we did some lighting, so we're deep into it now. Regarding funding, we're still not monetized on YouTube or anything. We're doing it independently to get people's stories out there. It's not about us. It's about the people we're interviewing, and that's the big reason why we're doing it. Credit: Bud Gambrell A couple of the band members I was familiar with were the singer and guitarists for The Alabama Heathens . I first met Jude Roberts through his father, Mike. Mike is a long-time staple in the Huntsville Music Scene. Off The Charts may have an article coming up sometime in the future that will feature Mike. While backstage, I pulled Dylan and Jude aside from the band The Debriefers because I had previously met them while filming a music video for another well-known local band. We had a great conversation; read more below. OTC : Jude, what does it mean to you to share the stage with all this talent at Mars Music Hall ? JR : I'm honored to be able to play on this stage. I've seen a lot of acts that I look up to on that stage, like Gov't Mule . I've seen Drive-By Truckers , Gary Clark Jr. , and Primus . All these big-name acts have shared this stage, and I'm honored to be able to share it. It is truly an honor! If you told me a year ago that I'd be playing in Mars Music Hall, I would have called you crazy! OTC : What do you like most about the life of a musician, and what do you like the least? JR : The music! It doesn't matter if you've had a bad day. But if I have a terrible day and go practice or play a gig, that makes me feel better because it's what I love to do. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Driving home from Muscle Shoals at 3:00 in the morning is not very fun, though. OTC : What was the funniest thing that happened to you while you were on stage? JR : At a frat party in Birmingham, AL, I was playing, and somebody came up and licked my guitar mid-solo. I continued to play, and it was getting licked simultaneously. And then, not even five minutes later, you see them vomiting across the floor. I did not let him lick my guitar again. OTC : I’m not sure what to say to that. That is an insane story. (laughs) Dylan, what does it mean to you to be playing here tonight? DJ : Man, it feels great! We're stoked to get this opportunity. We never thought we'd be here this soon. All my idols have been here, so it's very special to me. It means a lot! I'm stoked! Alabama Heathens have been a band for about a year, so closing out our big July run by playing at Mars Music Hall is very special! OTC : What got you into music? DJ : I listened to records. When I was growing up, my father always had some music on the record player. OTC : What is it about music that makes you feel passion? DJ : The energy of the songwriting. If you hear an in-depth songwriter, you can almost feel like you've walked in their shoes. Credit: Bud Gambrell As we approached showtime, I asked Brandon Elder about his mental preparation for a performance. OTC : Do you follow a process or ritual to prepare for the stage? BE : You would need more time to put it in the article. (laughs) I'm just kidding. I can tell you what we've done all day. We sound-checked, and once everybody finished sound-checking, we had some pizza and then wrote a song. We hung out and jammed, had a few beers, and had fun with the day and the event. OTC : You all wrote a song backstage? Tell me a little about it or who was involved. BE : Every artist in the Alabama Smoke Show was in the room. It was a song that I had had an idea for. I had four lines written for the song. We were bouncing the ideas off each other, and I said, hey, I got this song, and everybody liked it, and we just rolled with it. It's not finished, but it's close, so hopefully, you'll hear that soon. Credit: Bud Gambrell Later in the evening, Brandon asked me if I wanted to hear a new song. You know I did! Honestly, I had no idea what I was about to hear. Brandon , accompanied by fiddle player Joanne Moger , began to play a song called House Divided for me . I am glad no one took a picture of me during that song because you would have seen my jaw all the way on the ground! It was a fantastic song, and I hope you will hear it soon. Be on the lookout! Backstage was like a cast of characters, and I loved every moment. Another musician I was previously familiar with was Kam Jones . Kam is a songwriter in Huntsville. He can be found playing in town solo or with his full band. I have enjoyed seeing both, and he is truly remarkable. I swore I wouldn't tell this part of the night, but why not? Before I started my recorder to do the interview, Kam twisted my arm. I mean, he had it twisted high and tight to do a shot of whiskey with him. I tried to say no, but he insisted. Ok, maybe he didn’t have to twist my arm all that much. Read on below. OTC : Kam, tell me a little about the Alabama Smoke Show from your perspective. KJ : Jonah approached me to do this, as did everybody else. As far as I know, this was an idea that he put together. It is his brainchild. He's gathered some incredibly talented songwriters and performers here tonight to put on a hell of a show. OTC : Now, Kam, you have already played your set. Tell me what it was like up there. KJ : It was very joyous and a lot of fun! I felt like I had some good friends up there, and we were having a good time. Everything was light and loose! OTC : Do you have anything coming up that you would like to tell us about? KJ : My single, ' Southern Weather, ' is coming out on August 28th, and I'll be all over town in the meantime. OTC : Where can we find the new single? KJ : You can find it anywhere you listen to music. My grandmother says Spoofify, but it's called Spotify . At first sight, the Alabama Smoke Show could have been brushed aside by most fans due to the age of the musicians. Please take my word for it: this event had the caliber of seasoned artists way beyond their years. Hopefully, this will be an annual event; I will watch for the dates if it returns next year. It's not often that I get to hang out backstage. My role as a photographer is usually at the front of the house or in the pit, but tonight, I arrived early to hang out backstage and talk to the artists I knew, and I’m glad I did. I encountered a remarkable group of people, and I can’t thank them enough for talking with me. After the night, one conclusion was clear: Huntsville has always been rich in talent. The youth on stage proved that the legacy and future of Huntsville's Music Scene are safe. The rising stars who performed at Mars Music Hall will carry the music torch in Huntsville for years. I know it. Thank you for stopping by and staying with me for this latest edition of Off the Charts ! As always, please drop me an email with your thoughts. Please tell me what you like or dislike about the column and articles. You may even have an idea for a future article; email me . Somebody, please send me an email. Getting an email up and running costs millions of dollars, and mine needs to be used! Just kidding. It didn’t cost millions, but I have your attention now. I would like to hear from you! Reach out! Help me shine a light on all our great talents in Alabama and beyond! 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 Where to find 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 Where to find Jonah Evans: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jonah-evans/1702943396 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonahevansmusic?si=EY9zEUUSaQgt4foQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonah.evans.144/about_details Where to find Kam Jones: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamljonesmusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KamLJones?mibextid=ZbWKwL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kam.jones.music?_t=8oUF4fCuewY&_r=1 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kamjonesmusic?si=MH1qp_8gSbPIAQqr Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3eCCb48zuqQN57fKgNjd8F?si=EmjLMVSiTBiI4dWYMGJJ_g Where to find The Alabama Heathens: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/99-miles/1705293419?i=1705293420 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3yif0RCKe3Oy7h2ow6hQFn?si=MpTR10vwQB6OPW_eb8Sg0A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealabamaheathens/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551809874041 Where to find Jude Roberts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juderoberts290/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069812147038 Where to find Dylan Johnson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanjohnson.music/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/H0fqrDyKE2A?si=oQwEftT1Beyu_f8l Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100060446756708 Where to find Pickletato: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pickletato Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555703570599 pickletato@proton.me Instagram: Pickletato (@therealpickletato) • Instagram photos and videos Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

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

Shape Shifting combines the power of thrash metal with the intensity of punk rock. < Back Owls & Aliens Embrace Transformation on Powerful New Single Nicole Brice Jan 30, 2026 Share Shape Shifting combines the power of thrash metal with the intensity of punk rock. Music, at its core, is meant to inspire and motivate us as humans. The frequencies in music can uplift us in the darkest of times, to the point where we can forget about everyday life and become engrossed in the soothing sounds. Finding new music from a band that truly clicks can be tough in today’s crowded music scene, but when those rare gems appear, they’re worth celebrating and sharing with the world. Owls & Aliens is a band from Klamath Falls, Oregon , that got its start in late 2018 and released its self-titled debut album in 2022. The first album blends classic rock, heavy metal, punk rock, alternative, and post-hardcore . With so many layers to their music, Owls & Aliens falls under the category of really good hard rock – amazing solos that melt your face off with heavy breakdowns. Releasing their new song, ‘ Shape Shifting ' , today, January 30, 2026 , Owls & Aliens is comprised of Dustin Carter (clean/unclean vocals), Travis Siebecke (rhythm guitar / clean vocals), Jeffry Maryinez (lead guitar, backup vocals), Nicholi Ohbronovich (bass, unclean vocals), and Dakotah Webb (drums, backup vocals). Credit: Anonda Rae A brotherhood with a well-rounded group of musicians, each member of Owls & Aliens shares vocal duties on their songs, with no song sounding the same. This band has mastered a formula that delivers a different listening experience through a cornucopia of sounds, textures, melodies, and riffs. It’s all organic, and it just works. Previous releases include ‘ Mercy ’ in 2020. This song starts with heavy guitar, fuzz, and distortion, then takes on a melodic tone – a strong track with an amazing guitar solo at the end. ‘ You Can’t Save Everyone ’ came out in 2021, and I freaking LOVE THIS SONG! I guarantee that if you haven't heard this song, you will love it once you give it a spin. Other notable releases include ‘ Tsunami ’, ‘ Temperature Shift ’, and ‘ Romanticize the Sorrow ’ – all off the band’s debut album . Take it from me, though, the entire debut release is killer. There is not a single track that lacks. Let’s talk about this new song, shall we? ‘ Shape Shifting ’ is powerful and begins with a classic thrash-metal sound mixed with a little Judas Priest and the intensity of punk rock . What makes a great rock song, you think? For me, it has to be intense, loud, melodic, and just full of energy. ‘Shape Shifting’ is exactly that. It is loud, fun, and just plain enjoyable. Owls & Aliens is a band on a mission, and we were able to catch up with the band’s drummer, Dakotah , recently to learn more about what this band is about, so dive in. Released January 30, 2026 MaM : Shape Shifting – let’s get into this track. Wow. What a strong song. What inspired this song, and what is the main message you’d like to convey with this track? Dakotah : We were going for something really powerful that brought the energy. I think it originally started off with a guitar riff from Jeff ; he brought that. I remember him bringing that to the table. As far as the rest of the music, it just kind of molded around that riff. Dustin , I’m not sure whether he had the vocals prewritten or wrote them on the spot. He is constantly writing, so he always has lyrics. In fact, he has this journal, so I’m not sure how those came about. When I first heard it, it gave me those classic Judas Priest vibes, and I knew that there would be a big modern element with Dustin’s vocals. MaM : He has such range! Dakotah : I also remember when I was doing the drumbeat, I wanted some double kick in there, so you could feel the power of there being a double kick in there. I don’t use it on every song, but I felt it was necessary. I have a lot of influence from Pantera , Slipknot , and Slayer , so I’m trying to get some of that, but combine the classic heavy sound with some of the more modern drumming, even more modern than some of the things I’ve mentioned. The message is more of a new-age experience of the end of an era and the beginning of the next. We had written our first album and had a whole big experience with going to Texas to record, traveling together, and then touring across the country with Raven Black . During that time, ‘ Shape Shifting ’ was one of the first songs we wrote, and so it just felt like it was the point from which we were shifting. All these things that we have done, what is this going to be in this new era, not just personally, but musically, too. It's been two years since we got back from tour, and we haven’t released new music. We wrote that so long ago, but it feels like the perfect song to release as we enter this new era for the band. MaM : It’s such a strong song right out the gate. I didn’t know what to expect when I pressed play, but truth be told, every song of yours is so different. You can hear that cornucopia of vast influences with every song. You’ve got this amazing catalog of music so far. What is the band's vision for 2026 and beyond? Dakotah : With the first record, we were trying to showcase all of our influences since we all are influenced by different artists, but there is this common core you can hear, and with that, we were trying to show people what we were capable of. Now, as we come into this new era, I think we’re going to be a little more decisive on creating a more cohesive sound and album. I know this new song comes out really hard and heavy, but we’re shooting for more melodic stuff, but you never want to force anything. Just let things go how they’re gonna go, and find a way to make all of our unique styles exist and work together. MaM : … and they do! Dakotah : We have so many pieces of new songs and riffs that we’ll have to be selective to put them into what we want for this next album. Credit: Anonda Rae MaM : If you had to describe your music to someone not familiar, how would you describe it? For me, it’s just good, solid, heavy rock. Dakotah : It’s so hard, and we really don’t know. We just say hard rock because it keeps things as broad as possible, but at the same time, when you say hard rock, people may think that it’s basic, but it’s anything but that. MaM : It is definitely not basic. Dakotah : You really just gotta listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1jUM7Wc2-U 'You Can't Save Everyone' by Owls & Aliens MaM : I can agree with that. So, where did the band's name come from? To me, there are spiritual undertones, but I could be reading more into it. Give us a little more info on the name. Dakotah : When we were looking for a name, we wanted a good graphic to go with it as well. Our community features many owl-themed elements, and the school I attended has owls as its mascot. There is also a bird festival up here every year. Our frontman, Dustin , and his sister were helping us design all the graphics. She’s a tattoo artist and does really cool work. She had drawn up this really cool owl design that had three eyes, and we had tossed up an owl-themed name before, and that’s kind of where she got the idea for the sketch. We actually ended up calling ourselves Night Owl to start off. Then we played a show under that name and we even did a few demo recordings, and when we put those out, we tried to release it under the name Night Owl , but then we found out there is another artist – a Chicano rapper that has been going by that name since the 90s, and even though it’s more underground, he is relatively known in that scene of music, so our music actually got released under his name. MaM : That’s awesome. Dakotah : I had to go in and pull it off immediately. We then had to come up with a new name, but we really wanted to stick with the owl theme, because we’ve all been part of the music community in Klamath Falls, and it was through that community that we met each other. The owl is a central theme of our work. Eventually, someone came up with the idea of Owls & Aliens , and it stuck really well. From then on, that was who we were. Credit: Anonda Rae MaM : With you being the drummer, what made you choose to play that particular instrument, or better yet, when was it that you decided you wanted to beat on crap? (laughter) Dakotah : I think I was born to be a drummer but didn’t realize it for a while. I actually started playing guitar. My dad played guitar, and I still play and love it to this day. Fun fact: Every person in our band plays guitar. MaM : I saw that you all share vocal duties, but that’s incredible. I didn’t know that. Dakotah : I just love music. I can’t remember a time when I didn't love music or want to play it. At the same time, when I wanted to learn guitar, my grandma was showing me things on the piano, and so I’ve been self-taught my entire life, and this is kind of funny, but I also had some friends and some neighbors who loved to play the game Rock Band , and so I would go to my friend’s house to play Rock Band , and he had the drum kit. I had always liked tapping, and one of the reasons I think I loved Guitar Hero so much was that you’re matching patterns and rhythms like drums; that’s probably why I was so good at the guitar part, too. He let me try out drums, and I was naturally good at it. The drums in Rock Band correlates most realistically, but not more than like vocals, but it really is real drum patterns that you’re learning. It’s just on pads instead of a drum kit, so I got obsessed with it and made my mom buy me the game. That’s how I started learning to play beats. I remember telling my mom I wanted a real drum set. I had some buddies in middle school who wanted to start a band, and I wanted to be the drummer, so I had to get a drum set. The first drum kit she ever got me was used from a friend or something, but it had no cymbals. MaM : Oh wow! (laughter) Dakotah : I was just doing this ‘George of the Jungle’ vibe for the first few weeks. (laughter) MaM : I bet you were probably annoying your mom with it, too. (laughter) Dakotah : Absolutely, and I was trying to explain to her that I didn’t have all the pieces, but then because I was expressing so much interest in drums and music and wanting to play, my dad’s friends all thought that was super cool because growing up my dad loved music. He wasn’t in a band or anything, but that was just a big part of his life. My dad’s friends were kind of like my uncles to me growing up. One of the guys was like, I have this miniature drum kit for you, and it was undersized for me, but it came with regular sized cymbals, so I took the cymbals from that, and brought them over to my mom’s, and then bam! I had a full drum kit. MaM : That’s some ingenuity right there. Dakotah : I just fell in love with it. From the first time I ever played Rock Band , I just knew this was it. I also remember the first time I played a real drum kit, I was confused because on Rock Band , the yellow hi-hat is on the right , and with a traditional kit , it’s on the left , and then you cross your arms, so the first time I sat down, I was confused, and went, ‘How do I hit the hi-hat?’ (laughter) MaM : Yeah, something feels off. Dakotah : Then, someone was like cross your arms. (laughter) Dakotah : I was all self-taught, though. Even to this day, not a single lesson. I would love to get formal training from someone who is truly a master of the craft. It’s kind of backwards, I didn’t approach it from a music theory approach or anything, and now that I’m older, I’m trying to learn all the music theory and bring it all in. I feel like I found myself when I found drums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m788ZC5Xh88 'Romanticize the Sorrow' by Owls & Aliens MaM : So, new song and what else this year? What’s the game plan for the rest of 2026? Dakotah : We have two singles in the works that we want to release for sure this year, and then the primary goal is just to get a second album recorded. We have a lot of new material that is not finalized and put together, so it’s just making steps to find studio time, and finish those songs. We’ll still play some regional shows this year, but while I’m in graduate school, it’s definitely hard to tour. I should be finishing my master’s in June of this year, so we’ll probably start looking at planning some tour dates after that. With so much on the horizon for Owls & Aliens , 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year. Stream their new single, ‘ Shape Shifting ,’ on your favorite platform, then engross yourself in the rest of their discography. It’s a journey through an abyss of sounds, textures, and styles that will leave you absolutely speechless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyMULx9afn0 Official video for 'Shape Shifting' *cover photo by Anonda Rae To learn more about Owls & Aliens: Website: www.owlsandaliens.com Owls & Aliens Home page of Owls & Aliens, a rock group from Klamath Falls. 5 small town Oregon grown best friends trying to figure out how to cope with life together by playing music. Refusing to be one genre of rock music, each member brings a completely different sty Spotify: Owls & Aliens | Spotify Apple Music: ‎Owls & Aliens - Apple Music YouTube: Owls & Aliens - YouTube 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

Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date < Back Film Review: Oppenheimer Shaun Corley Jul 25, 2023 Share Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date Christopher Nolan has returned to theaters with Oppenheimer , which may stand as his best film to date. Nolan occupies a rare niche in American cinema: He makes intelligent, layered movies that are given the same marketing treatment as Mission Impossible or MCU offerings. Very few other filmmakers can pull this off; Nolan’s only peer in this realm may be Jordan Peele. For Oppenheimer , Nolan pulls out all the stops, creating a long, dense, and ultimately hypnotic film. Christopher Nolan left a grand impression on movie-goers with his second film, 2000’s Memento . Starring Guy Pearce, the movie followed an amnesiac as he attempted to piece together various clues, such as cryptic tattoos, in a bid to discover his life before. Memento was smart and did not insult the viewer’s intelligence. These qualities would be present in Nolan’s next movie, a 2002 remake of Insomnia . A career high for the late Robin Williams, Insomnia ensured Nolan’s place in American film, a promise that came to fruition with the director’s Batman trilogy. While movies such as Memento put Nolan on critics’ radars, Batman Begins and its two sequels made the director a household name, affording him a status unlike any other. In 2020, he released Tenet , which opened to fair reviews and a low box office–although to be fair, the film was released during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in his career, Nolan had polarized the critics and audiences. While Tenet may be ripe for rediscovery one day, it remains the one film that did not receive universal acclaim from critics. However, with Oppenheimer , Christopher Nolan comes roaring back, reasserting himself as one of the best directors working today. Oppenheimer is, at its core, a biopic. It tells the story of Doctor Robert J. Oppenheimer, a young physicist who is recruited to the Manhattan Project during World War 2. Cillian Murphy (L) as Robert Oppenheimer (R); Source: Associated Press At the beginning of the war, United States intelligence learned that Germany was conducting atomic experiments, with the goal of creating a weapon. In response, the U.S. created the Manhattan Project, with the intent of beating Germany to the punch. Oppenheimer was recruited to lead the Project, despite protests from the military. A key aspect of the Manhattan Project was its secrecy and compartmentalization; the facilities and scientists were scattered across the country, all working towards the same goal—even if they didn’t know what it was. Of course, America did develop the atomic bomb, dropping it on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. The film touches on Oppenheimer’s ambivalence towards the bomb, particularly after it is dropped. In one powerful scene, the Los Alamos scientists learn the bomb worked, and Japan has surrendered. Many of the scientists celebrate joyfully, but a few do not. As Oppenheimer leaves the party, he sees his fellow researchers crying or vomiting in horror of what they unleashed. Source: Associated Press The film’s final part focuses on this fallout. Before the war, Oppenheimer had talked to (but never formally joined) the United States Communist Party—a fact that Lewis Strauss tried to use against him when it came time to extend Oppenheimer’s security clearance. Some of his friends, such as Doctor Edward Teller, sold him out in the hearings, and the film touches on this as well. Oppenheimer features a jam-packed cast: Cillian Murphy ( Peaky Blinders ) as Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt ( A Quiet Place ) as his wife Kitty, and Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man ) as Lewis Strauss, the former chair of the Atomic Energy Commission. Each of these actors gives great, Oscar-worthy performances. Murphy, a frequent collaborator of Nolan’s, hits a career high as the titular physicist, embodying both his hopes and his fears for atomic energy. Emily Blunt, as Kitty Oppenheimer, stands out as well. She is the woman of an intelligent man, and she is every bit as smart herself but must take a back seat to her husband. A pointed commentary on gender roles at the time, Kitty still nevertheless supports Oppenheimer through thick and thin. Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt as Robert and Kitty Oppenheimer; Source: Associated Press Finally, Downey shines as Lewis Strauss. Strauss pretended to be Oppenheimer’s friend, but it was revealed he was ultimately the one who torpedoed Oppenheimer’s security clearance. Downey perfectly embodies this political sleaziness, pretending to be Oppenheimer’s friend while simultaneously selling him out. Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss; Source: Associated Press The supporting cast is enormous and also features some stand-out performances. Florence Pugh ( Black Widow ) plays Jean Tatlock, an ardent Communist who had an affair with Oppenheimer. Jack Quaid ( The Boys ) plays the notorious Richard Fenyman and Benny Safdie ( Licorice Pizza ) plays Edward Teller, two other scientists who worked with Oppeheimer on the Manhattan Project. Others turning in great performances include Tom Conti ( Peripheral ) as Albert Einstein, Josh Hartnett ( Penny Dreadful ) as Ernest Lawrence, and Gary Oldman ( Slow Horses ) as Harry Truman. As mentioned earlier, Oppenheimer is a biopic . This is a genre that has proven popular with moviegoers as well as critics. However, these films tend to be overproduced and over-sentimentalized; some use the term “Oscar Bait” to describe them. These arguments are not without merit, as these films can sometimes gloss over certain aspects of the subject’s life. Nolan breaks the biopic mold with Oppenheimer. The film is not a simple retelling of events but instead uses a challenging narrative structure to tell Oppenheimer’s story. The film regularly jumps from era to era, offering viewers the chance to see Oppenheimer both at the Manhattan Project and years later at his security clearance hearing after the Project ended. However, it is a testament to Nolan’s skills as a director that the story flows smoothly, despite the structure. There is much to like about Oppenheimer, such as the performances and its structure. It would be a disservice not to discuss Ludwing Goransson ’s stirring score, which he recorded in just five days. Nolan built a name for himself working with composer Hans Zimmer; however, Zimmer did not work with the director on Oppehemier . Instead, Goransson, whose other scores include Black Panther and Fruitvale Station, among others, delivers a fantastic soundtrack--his score perfectly complements the film. Oppenheimer ’s three-hour runtime may be daunting to some viewers, but rest assured it is time well spent. Between Nolan’s superior direction, the stellar performances, and a killer score, Oppenheimer is hypnotic, drawing fans in and keeping them hooked. While the film may be difficult to get through for some, patient viewers will be rewarded with not only one of the best films of the year, but also, perhaps, Christopher Nolan’s best as well. Oppenheimer is currently in theaters across the U.S. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYPbbksJxIg Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. 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: Alien Shark Ezekiel Kincaid Share Aug 2, 2023 An entertaining movie with poor effects and multiple random plots Last week’s review was on werewolves. This week? Sharks! But not just any shark. No, now we have (queue sinister music) an alien shark! Sounds awesome, right? Based on the title, what are you expecting? Sharks from another planet? Another dimension? Maybe even astronauts landing on an earth-like planet and getting devoured by a species of shark not known to man? If that’s what you’re expecting, you might as well get ready to be disappointed. Welcome to the world of B horror. Alien Shark is about a meteor crashing into the ocean and turning a shark into an “alien” shark that wreaks havoc on some vacationers looking to have a good time. Not a terrible sci-fi shark thriller plot, right? It’d be nice if that’s what we got out of this movie, but instead we get a host of other nonsense that leaves us wondering what happened to the plot. But that’s not the only thing that makes this movie bad. There’s more ... so much more. First off, the Alien Shark script is terrible. How it ever got accepted, I’ll never know. Second, the execution of the dialogue is SO bad. The actors over-emphasize every syllable of every word they say. What makes me such an expert? Well, let me remind you I do watch a lot of terrible movies, so for me to even notice at all is saying something. Plus, I’m a writer and writers always know bad writing and poor execution. While listening to the dialogue in Alien Shark , I cringed. A lot. At one point I had to check my ears because I thought they were bleeding. I'm not kidding. All that out of the way, I still found the movie entertaining. Even though the dialogue was so bad, it kept me laughing. So, too, did the cheap special effects. But what else would you expect from a Wal-Mart Exclusive? That’s right, folks. I picked this gem up by hand at Wally World. Alien Shark was made in 2022 and is directed by Paul Tomborello ( Little Savages, Rumors of War ), written by Aaron Jackson ( Expulsion ). It stars Brittany Altrenbach ( Fear the Walking Dead, Broken Seeds ) as main character Aleesha and Lukas Silva ( No Virtue, Carp-e Diem ) as Pete. The movie starts off with two girls finding a weird piece of a glowing meteor on the beach. When they approach it, they get possessed/controlled by some alien force and die. Aleesha shows up to the beach after being invited by her friends to a party they are throwing before she leaves on another military deployment. When they all get to the beach, people start acting weird and their eyes start glowing green. When a guy named Mickey shows up and starts talking crazy, warning everyone about aliens, they dismiss him. Then, for some unknown reason, they hold a crystal ceremony. Somehow this ceremony opens them up to the aliens and things get out of hand. During this time, the alien shark is just swimming in the ocean, looking for people to eat. From "Alien Shark" IMDB (We're sorry that photo couldn't be any clearer. We tried. You try finding stills of the shark featured in Alien Shark and let me know how that works out for you!) The entire storyline doesn’t make a lick of sense. The filmmakers never explain what is going on with the shark or how it even became “alien.” It’s not clear if the aliens are controlling the shark and the people or if they are possessing them. Random WTF points are just inserted into the story without any explanation and by the end, you aren’t sure what the hell just happened or what the hell you just watched. Here's a list of Alien Shark ’s inserted random plot points filmmakers pull right out of their ass: Alien shark comes to the shore and pukes out a shark dog. Alien ship circles the earth without any explanation as to why. Characters have dreams of eating people. Shark flies out of the sun. The spirit of a shark hovers in mid-air. Calling ritual with crystals invites the aliens. The aliens’ possession or mind control can be broken by pressing a magic seashell against the forehead. Alien shark can turn invisible. Alien shark can be defeated by blowing up a random camera that shows up out of nowhere. Why all this? I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine. But here’s my theory. I think the director and the writer got drunk one night, wrote down the dumbest crap they could come up with, put it in a hat, and let their dog pick. That’s the only solid reasoning I can come up with. The best part of this movie is Mickey, the crazy dude. Every horror movie has to have one. His acting is so bad, it’s side-splitting hilarious. Everyone, and I mean everyone, in this movie takes their role way too seriously, making the film even more entertaining. As far as the CGI goes, it is the most terrible effort I have seen in any movie ever. I kid you not. You’ll get a taste of it in the trailer, along with the heavily acted-out dialogue efforts. Should you watch Alien Shark ? I think so. Especially if you want a good laugh and if you want to learn how NOT to write and direct a movie. There is no blood, no good kill scenes, and no one getting ripped to shreds by the alien shark—things an audience expects to see in any decent shark movie. All in all, Zeke’s “so bad it’s good” rating is 3 out of 5 shark dogs. If you really want to watch this movie, you can buy it at Wal-Mart. It used to be on Tubi but I guess even they have standards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OVPL1e9FF4 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

Dale Harris Music < Back Laid-Back Louisiana Southern Rock Keeley Brooks Oct 19, 2022 Share Dale Harris Music Who doesn’t love some good ole Southern rock music? Creedence, Skynyrd, ZZ Top, The Charlie Daniels Band … The Allman Brothers. Legends. And while all of these groups are surely amongst favorites in the classic rock community, I’m here to tell you about a new favorite Southern rock artist (and band) you just don’t know yet. Meet Dale Harris – singer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, and all-around awesome guy. What makes him unique is his multi-faceted ability to do pretty much anything, but relative to this article, I’ll clarify and add musically . In addition to playing lead in his band, the Dale Harris Band, he’s also a multi-instrumentalist, playing the rhythm guitar and drum set, and a singer/songwriter, who tries not to limit himself to just one style. “When I’m writing songs, I try to write music in as many genres as possible so as not to pigeon hole myself,” said Harris. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dale has been playing music pretty much his whole life. His father was a carpenter who exposed him, “to people from all walks of life.” In fact, it was one of his father’s concrete finishers, who ran the band at his local church, gave Harris his first snare drum. “I fell in love with music and learned musicianship from watching those concrete finishers play gospel music after work and on Sundays,” he said, with the reflections of those days shining in his eyes. Dale began guitar lessons at six years old, then started drum lessons with Lyman Mulkey as a teenager. After high school, Harris found himself playing in various local bands over the years, like The Black Box, Loverseed, The Invisible Men, The Roebucks, The Jazz Souls, and The Florida Street Blowhards. Though he writes mainly Southern rock songs, Harris is inspired by the swamp pop, jazz, soul, and gospel genres. Taught by his father at a young age to read chord charts and play folk, country, and gospel songs on guitar, Dale credits The Charlie Daniels band with inspiring him to become a musician. “My first source of inspiration came from the Charlie Daniels Band. When I heard ‘Devil Went Down to Georgia,’ well, it was the first time I heard someone just straight getting down on an instrument. It was my first example of trading solos. After that, I knew I wanted to become a musician; so, I did.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P65N73_pRJ8 Harris also credits Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and Dr. John with being major influences on his music, which is ripe with laid-back style that paints a smooth surface over rough terrain and consists of topics like heartbreak, hoodlums, and home repair. Currently he stays busy writing and recording music with his band, the Dale Harris Band. Harris leads the group on vocals, rhythm guitar, and drums, on occasion. Glenn Harris, his brother, plays lead guitar, and long-time co-writer Denvil Snyder plays bass. Personally, one of my favorite tunes is “I Woke Up.” From those laid-back, catchy guitar licks to the buttery smooth vocals that ooze out of Harris when he sings, the songs aspects and focus just pull you in sip by sip. It’s catchy, it’s rockin’, and it’s just a damn good song. And speaking of good songs, you should also check out “Dag Nabbit,” which, according to Dale, was inspired by watching Saturday morning cartoons. For more on that story, you’ll have to go to one of his shows and ask him the deets yourself! “Yeah, that one tends to be “the hit” amongst the kids,” Harris laughed. At the moment, he is in the process of recording demos for an upcoming album, and he currently has an EP available on Spotify and most streaming platforms. As far as upcoming shows, you can see the Dale Harris Band live at any of the below-listed shows, and be sure to catch him Halloween weekend doin’ his thang live at Phil Brady’s. Oct 29 Phil Brady’s, Baton Rouge Nov 12 Oyster Bar, St. Francisville Dec 1 La Davina Café, Baton Rouge New Year’s The Hilton Downtown, Baton Rouge *(with The Florida Street Blowhards) For further information on Dale Harris and the Dale Harris Band, and to stay up to date on live performances and album releases, visit www.jdharrismusic.com . *photos provided by Dale Harris www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Who is Fish? < Back Messing Up Quests and Putting Things to the Test Nicole Brice Feb 15, 2023 Share Who is Fish? One day as I was doing my daily scroll on social media, I came across a YouTube video a friend had shared, and it was titled Stuck Inside a Video Game . I was like, “Hmmm, what could this be?” as I pressed play, not sure of what I was about to watch. For the next five minutes and 42 seconds , I was snickering like a goober while watching this cinematic masterpiece in all its humorous glory. The creator of the video I had just watched was a guy named Fish . After that moment, I shared the video because it was awesome and because most can relate to anything pertaining to video games. Little did I know that a few months later, while looking for talent to scout and write about, I would happen upon the Instagram page of the same artist/musician responsible for the epic YouTube video I had seen and gobbled up like a goober. For those who have not seen the jewel that is Stuck Inside a Video Game , it is a clever song and music video of a guy on a couch playing The Legend of Zelda , showing different scenarios and scenes of the main character being sucked into the actual game, complete with witty commentary, sexy women back-up dancers/singers, and much hilarity. In fact, before you finish this article, you must watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCLgVeQtDnE Stuck Inside a Video Game by Fish So, who is the guy behind this glorious gem? Well, folks, his name is Sam Fishman , a.k.a. Fish . I bet you’re probably asking, “ Who is Fish? ” So please, allow me. Not only is Fish a producer, a drummer, a video game enthusiast, and a kick-ass human , BUT he is also extremely witty, very intelligent, and super talented. When he’s not making amazingly awesome YouTube videos with clever concepts, he spends his time spinning the sticks as the drummer of the New York-based Americana/Folk rock band, Driftwood … truly an entertaining man. Keep reading to learn more! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Good Morning! Thank you for speaking with me today. So, let’s preface this by saying how wonderful it is to be speaking with the creator of “Stuck Inside a Video Game.” I saw it a few months back and instantly fell in love with it. Fish : You saw that? (laughs) That’s fortuitous. MaM : Yes, I saw it before I knew who you were and instantly thought, “This dude is awesome!”. Fish : Oh wow! (laughs) Yeah, that’s so funny. The universe is pointing in the right direction. MaM : So, not only are you making incredibly creative videos, but you are also the drummer in the band Driftwood, correct? Tell us a little more about that. Fish : So, I had been living in Brooklyn for about seven months when the pandemic hit and then, at that point, I said, ‘Alright, I’m gonna move out of the city.’ So, I left Brooklyn , moved back home with my folks for a little bit to figure out what the next move was, and then I felt like moving to Ithaca, N.Y. I felt like that was the best move for me. I have some familiarity with New York State, so I said, ‘Let me try Ithaca out,’ and I moved there. The first year that I’m there, it’s like [the] pandemic. Everything was closed. Nothing was happening. I started getting situated and reaching out to people, and through a mutual friend, I connected with Joey Arcuri . Joey is the bass player for Driftwood , and we connected, and so I said, ‘Joey, we should jam sometime,’ and we both know Chris . Chris is our mutual friend, and Joey said, ‘Yeah, that’d be great, man. Let’s keep in touch.’ A couple months go by, and I reach back out to Joey, and he gets back to me the next day and tells me their drummer had just left and then asked me if I’d like to audition for the band. The timing worked out, and because Joey and I had that mutual friend, we made the connection, and there ya go. MaM : Wow, that is incredible! You obviously have a background in music, so at what age did you start playing drums, and who are your musical influences and inspirations? Fish : I started playing drums in 3rd grade. MaM : Wow, 3rd grade? Just the fact that you can even remember back that far is awesome. I don’t even remember what I was doing at that age. Fish : Yeah, I had begged my parents for, like, two years to get me a drum set, and then they did. As far as influences, I have so many drummers I am into. That’s a really good question. It kind of taps into, like, there is stuff you can enjoy and then there are things you can kind of listen to cerebrally to get that music, and it makes sense in your brain; but, then there is music that hits your body and makes you feel things, and I guess for me, there are times when I love listening to hard rock and metal, and that sort of hits more intellectual [sic] for me because I’m understanding it in a way, but when I want to feel stuff, I really love listening to music with a groove and a laid-back vibe. For example, I’ve been listening to Madison Cunningham lately. It’s more Americana vibes. Very singer/songwriter … female vocals, relaxing … not gonna put me on edge. MaM : Do you prefer more singer/songwriter type of music? What’s your favorite type of music? Fish : Oh man, it’s very seasonal for me. I couldn’t tell you what my favorite is. For instance, I’m into these well-crafted songs kind of things and lush orchestrations, really just in the groove, in the pocket, but there may come a time in the summer where all I want to listen to is some heavy stuff. For instance, what’s the band from Chicago? I’m blanking out. The guy who does the “Oo-wa-ah-ah-ah!”? MaM : Disturbed? (laughs) Fish : (laughs) Yeah, Disturbed . I’ll maybe put on a little Disturbed . MaM : Get down with the sickness! (laughs) Fish : Yep yep! (laughs) … and I love Britney Spears ! I was listening to [her] the other day. MaM : Me too!!! One of my guilty pleasures! Fish : Yeah, Britney Spears , so good. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : So, tell us a little more about this video. I need to know all the details, because that thing is badass! Fish : (laughs) Yeah, that is so insane! There are a lot of layers to that video. On the surface, it’s this really wacky, like, surreal video. I mean, I’m stuck in a video game. I’m stuck in ‘ The Legend of Zelda .’ It’s actually a reflective piece, and for a while, in my, like, late-20s or, well, even when I was, like, 31 [or] 32—which, I’m 36 now, or, rather, I’ll be 36 this coming Sunday. Even into my early 30s, I found myself playing games a little too much, and I wasn’t really living. The music video was a big, cathartic release for me. I wrote this rap song about being stuck in a game, and I wrote it the way I knew how, and then I said, Screw it! I’m gonna go all in. I’m gonna fly out to Los Angeles. I’m gonna get this thing legit.’ I found a video crew, Blurred Pictures , Rosco – he’s this great director out there. His mind moves a mile a minute, and we just got a team and I said, ‘I’m gonna produce this thing,’ and we really did it. I wanted to share my experiences in a way other people would relate. I feel like there’s a lot of guys out there that are stuck in this video game world, and they don’t even realize it. The video is a fun way to show the lines can be blurred if you play too many games. Is your life the game? Is the game your life? That whole back-and-forth dilemma. MaM : I can totally relate to that because my husband is a gamer, but he never let it consume him 100%. Now, my best friend, her boyfriend is so consumed by video games that he completely ignores her, and she is a total babe! I can definitely identify with your video. Fish : See? That’s what I mean. It’s relatable! Another part of it was that the women in the video are from ‘ The Legend of Zelda ,’ too … the three goddesses of the Tri Force … but they also take on a different meaning because they’re very sexy in the video, and because of that, if you’re attracted to women, women could become a distraction if you’re a little too focused on the game. You must find that balance. This is not my life’s purpose. My life has a greater purpose. The takeaway from this video is battling your shortcomings, getting out of your comfort zone, [and] really trying to better yourself. MaM : What is your favorite video game? Fish : Zelda … but then, which Zelda , right? I have some games that are definitely in the top 10, but simply because of the symbolism in the hero’s journey, Zelda is probably going to take the cake. I’m going to have to go with ‘ Ocarina of Time ’ as the best or as my favorite, with my second favorite Zelda game being ‘ Link’s Awakening .’ MaM : That’s awesome. I wanted to ask you, prior to Driftwood, were you playing in any other bands? Give us a brief history of your music career. Fish : So, if you thought the video was crazy, this is even crazier. Before I got into Driftwood , I was touring around the country and even got to go to Japan with my former band. I was playing with this group called Madison Rising , a political band, and it was a great opportunity for me to travel, and I learned a lot. I ended up leaving the band, though, to focus on other endeavors. The takeaway from that is that I learned a lot about the music industry, and I got to open up for Lynyrd Skynyrd , Aerosmith , and Weezer . We had a good run. I started with them in 2011 and left in 2018 . [I] spent seven years with them and learned some incredible things. Great learning experience. MaM : Steppingstones, though, to get to where you are today. Fish : Absolutely. Had I not experienced those situations with that band, then I would not have learned about what it means to be a professional musician. MaM : I want to learn more about these videos on Instagram and more about your production work. You have such an interesting story to tell. Fish : Appreciate that. The production stuff you mentioned is kind of inspired by art. Like, here’s a drumming solo; here’s me drumming to this; [and] here’s my friend doing a piano piece. I’m starting to sort of play in both worlds. The music video, for instance, plays on some surrealism there. I have a video I will be posting soon of me just roaming around a recording studio while my friend, Andrew Klein , makes scary sounds on metallic percussion instruments. MaM : (laughs) That’s so awesome! credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia Fish : There is one where I am going to be dancing behind the drummer, Andrew Klein , while he plays drums. (laughs) I want it to be fun. Trying to just do some silly stuff that is different. Trying to lighten up this whole ‘I’m a serious artist’ business. That’s where I’m at. I love being in the production role. I like seeing visions of mine come to life. I have good organizational skills, and being a good producer, to me, is having good organizational skills. MaM : Do you own your own studio? I’m curious as to where you are recording. Fish : I’ve been investing in myself, and I like going to different studios, as opposed to trying to set up my own studio. I’m not into that. Maybe if I had a ton of money, I could make my own studio. There is something about working in someone else’s space that forces me to be more creative … working within the limitations … let’s adapt. For example, Wilburland Recording Studio is a place I go back to quite a bit. It’s a place where the latest Instagram clip was filmed. It’s a great open space, and I like working with Will a lot, and it’s close to where I live. I like trying different things. I don’t want to get locked into the same pattern. I have another bit coming up that I recorded. Mikaela Davis is a prominent harp player in New York state, and I’m bringing her to Wilburland , and she’s going to perform the great fairy fountain music from ‘The Legend of Zelda.’ MaM : Love it! If you lived here in Louisiana, we’d be hanging out! Fish : I feel that, too, just based upon our conversation. You’re just good energy. MaM : I’m such a nerd. I read and I meditate, and I like science. Are you currently based in New York, still? Fish : I live in Ithaca, New York. MaM : You know, every time I hear the name Ithaca, I think of the movie, “Road Trip!” Fish : Yes! (laughs) You are so on point! Yes! MaM : That’s what I instantly think of with Ithaca. So, with your extensive background in the industry, I just must ask you what you think the music industry is lacking these days? Fish : That’s a great question. To me, what’s lacking is education, and what I mean by that is that the local artists, they don’t fully understand what it means to run your band as a business. Any local artists who are complaining, and I get this in Ithaca through friends, like they are really making forward progress and are passionate about what they’re doing, but they don’t understand that if your band is going to progress, then there needs to be an awareness that if your band is not run like a business, then don’t have any expectations of moving forward. If you want to move forward, you must do all the work on the business side to help you establish a plan. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : I completely can identify with that because you are building your band as a brand. You must brand yourself to stand out so that people take notice. What are you working on currently? Fish : One of the upcoming things is a screenplay for a movie. I just finished the first draft. It’s called ‘ Cicada Madness .’ It’s based on an audio project that is already completed, and I just decided to take it to the next level, but I’m certain I will be doing a crowdsourcing fund for the movie, because I want to have a big budget. When you think of the film, though, it’s a B-movie … sorority girls, cicadas flying around just exploding… (laughs) . MaM : So, is it like Hitchcock’s The Birds but with cicadas? Fish : Yeah, but funny. Not meant to scare you. Just total fun. Driftwood is currently recording an album, and we plan to release it in the fall. This is their most mature album to date. It’s going to defy expectations and has a lot of variety. Those are the main things. I have a video that is supposed to be finished by the end of February where I teamed up with a community music school to put on a performance of Claude Bolling’s ‘Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano ,’ and it brings me back to my roots of reading music and performing. I imagine I’ll be posting some clips from it in early March. I love doing different things where maybe you’ll get Jazz & Classical one day and then you’ll get crazy silly skit the next day. I have a lot of different things I want to do. credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia MaM : Ok, so big question. Who is Fish? Fish : Well, right now he’s the drummer of Driftwood the band; he does session work; and he produces and collaborates. But, yeah, Fish is ever evolving. That is the safe answer. Fish wants to inspire others. Fish wants to collaborate. That’s the key word. Fish is someone who wants to work with a lot of different people. Fish is a leader. Fish wants to bring out the best in other creative people. I love going to a keyboard player that I see potential in or that I think is phenomenal and I’ll say, ‘Hey, man! Let me get your number. We’re gonna work together.’ I just get right down to it. If I want to work with someone, I let them know. Fish really wants to bring out a vision and be part of a team. To learn more about Fish, check out all his links below and enjoy! Website: Who Is Fish? - Sam Fishman | Drummer, Composer, Creator Instagram: Who Is Fish? (@whoisfishig) • Instagram photos and videos YouTube: Who Is Fish? - YouTube Facebook: Who Is Fish? | Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection < Back Chilly Scenes of Winter: The Cult Classic Returns from Obscurity Shaun Corley Jul 27, 2023 Share Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection Chilly Scenes of Winter , directed by Joan Micklin Silver , is a romantic comedy—of sorts. On the surface, it has all the trappings of a rom-com: Man meets woman and quickly falls in love with her; the woman does not return the affections, leading the man to try and win her over. This plot has been done to death in movies, but Chilly Scenes of Winter elevates itself above the crowd by subverting tropes every step of the way. Hard to come by, the film has been released in a gorgeous new edition from the esteemed Criterion Collection. Chilly Scenes of Winter , based on the Ann Beattie novel of the same name, focuses on love, marriage, and 1970’s lifestyles. The film had a somewhat checkered production history. As recounted on one of the disc’s splendid special features, producers and actors Mark Metcalf ( National Lampoon’s Animal House ), Amy Robinson ( Julie & Julia ), and Griffin Dunne ( This Is Us ) purchased the film rights to the novel. Micklin, who had read the novel and heard the trio had procured the film rights, asked to direct, and they said yes. Released initially through United Artists in 1979 under the less-than-creative title Head Over Heels , the film was a commercial flop. Part of this can be attributed to United Artist’s indifference to the film, as well as meddling from studio executives. United Artists also were not sure how to market the film, running an ad campaign that portrayed it as a zany romance story—and it is anything but. However, in 1982, United Artists—through their new United Artists Classics line—decided to give Chilly Scenes of Winter another try. The film’s original producers, as well as Micklin, were given the chance to make the movie they wanted but were unable to in 1979, and all they had to do was cut the original ending. This new version of the movie was much more successful with critics and has become a cult film. Boutique label Twilight Time released a Blu-ray edition in 2017, which is now out of print; the film has never streamed on any major services either. Thankfully, the Criterion Collection has come to the rescue, saving Chilly Scenes of Winter from obscurity by giving it the loving treatment it deserves. On the back of the package, Criterion calls Chilly Scenes of Winter an “anti-romantic comedy,” and that is an apt description. Charles (John Heard, of Big and Home Alone ), is a civil servant living in Salt Lake City. He meets Laura (Mary Beth Hurt, of Lady in the Water ) while at work and becomes smitten with her, as she is temporarily separated from her husband. Over the next few weeks, Charles and Laura develop a relationship that comes to an end when Laura decides to return to her husband Ox, played by producer Mark Metcalf. Charles cannot accept the relationship is over, or that it was even much to start with, and becomes obsessed with her to a point modern audiences may find a little uneasy to accept. It is a testament to Heard’s acting that viewers can still find a shred of sympathy for Charles, even when he is clearly in the wrong. Part of Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s appeal is that practically everyone has been in a situation where they were in love with someone who did not reciprocate. Charles is in love with Laura; Laura, on the other hand, is still uncertain about her place in the world after leaving her husband. Laura is confused, as is Charles—he cannot see their relationship is doomed from the start. Mary Beth Hurt plays Laura perfectly and viewers can see, even in their most loving and passionate moments, a spark of uncertainty about her, as if she is not 100 percent into this relationship. The film’s original ending skewed this ambiguity, opting for something more palatable to mainstream audiences. When Chilly Scenes of Winter was re-released in 1982, the original ending was cut, giving the film a still somehow more satisfying conclusion. Criterion has included the original ending as part of its supplementary features, allowing viewers to make up their own minds on which one is better. Other supplements on the disc include new interviews with Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s production team, as well as a 2005 interview with Mecklin. The two features complement each other well and are a joy to watch, as the creative teams behind the movie share their tragedies and triumphs working on it. The film was clearly a labor of love on the part of everyone in front and behind the camera, and it shows both in the finished product and the disc’s supplemental features. Forty-four years after its first release, Chilly Scenes of Winter continues to resonate with audiences. Its themes are universal, and they continually topple tropes of the romantic comedy genre. Its DNA can be found in movies such as High Fidelity, Her , and many other subversive romantic comedies. Long hard to find, the Criterion Collection has brought it back into print in an amazing new edition, which you can find here . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wjmt0vWsQ Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. 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

Charles Brooks, D.M.A. < Back Big, Easy, Body-Melting Vibes Keeley Brooks Oct 3, 2022 Share Charles Brooks, D.M.A. As promised, each article I’ll direct your gaze towards an artist worth checking out, and then I’ll tell you all about why they’re worth it. Maybe they’re hip and chic, just like you. Maybe they’ve got some funky, groovy vibes that resonate so loudly, you simply can’t afford to pass on hearing more about him/her/them. Or, maybe they have a super-cool ability to melt your face off with one bitchin’ musical experience that’ll leave you reeling for days. For this first article, I do not disappoint. (And if I do, then by all means send me an email and let me know so we can rap about it.) I bring you more than just a musician. I bring you a unique body-melting experience that clings to you like static and leaves one hell of a lasting impression. My people, meet Dr. Charles Brooks, a multi-talented, classically trained professional jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, hand drummer, pianist, clinician, composer, and educator. Hold up. A what? A vibraphone? What the hell is that? Here’s the easy answer: think xylophone, only bigger, more octaves, and with pedals, like a piano. Remember NBC’s former tone that played on TV between your favorite primetime shows … ding dang dong … that’s a vibraphone. You with me? Cool. The vibraphone itself is a unique instrument for many reasons, one being because it’s not that widely known outside of the professional music community, and secondly because of its main special feature: a set of small, electrically operated fans that sit above the resonators and below the bars, or keys, of the instrument. This positioning allows for a smooth vibrato, or pulsating change of pitch, effect by rapidly closing and opening the resonators. Still with me? For those of you who are music lovers and not players, resonators are the tubes placed underneath the tone bars (i.e., keys) through which the vibrations travel. What makes Brooks’ sound equally unique, if not more, is his method of running the vibes through effects pedals, and that , my friends, is where this bitchin’ musical experience begins, if I do say so myself. “Running the vibes through these pedals provides added texture to its distinctive sound. [The pedals] roll out those rich vibraphone tones to listeners in waves with multi-dimensional effects that leave quite an impression. And that’s what I try to do when I play music—give listeners an unforgettable experience through a sound that imprints upon them in some way,” said Brooks. And imprint upon you, it will. Cases in point: check out the livestreams of his 2017 Pink Floyd tribute show ( https://www.periscope.tv/theCBDMA/1dRJZAYnrdaGB ) and his 2022 Black History Month Jimi Hendrix tribute show ( https://youtu.be/0R2OK689L2U ). Or, stroll on over to his YouTube channel and check out his smooth jazz vibes from this year’s W.C. Handy Festival ( https://youtu.be/_ibe3G-X8Uk ). But definitely after that, you’ll wanna peruse through any or all of his Friday Night Vibes shows, which feature both originals and covers. Selections of FNV shows are available on YouTube, and all FNV shows in their entirety are available for your pleasure at www.TheCharlesBrooks.com/friday-night-vibes . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R2OK689L2U Credit: YouTube When COVID locked us all down with nothing to do but, I don’t know, be with ourselves without a social construct and learn to communicate and self-entertain, Brooks started live streaming a one-hour solo vibraphone concert (often with various hand drums and drum set) every Friday night “I knew people were going stir crazy being stuck at home—especially those who enjoy live music. When there is no live music and everything’s locked down, it leaves a gaping hole in people’s lives. So, I started doing FNV to help music lovers and listeners unwind and disconnect from their stress so they could feel somewhat reconnected to music … to themselves, in a sense,” said Brooks. You’ll definitely want to set yourself an atmosphere before settling into any of these concerts. Relax, get comfy, turn the lights down, grab a drink, get mellow, then get lost in the waves that come rolling out at you. Let the energy of sound and the magic of music take you wherever they go. Get lost, babies. That’s what it’s about. We have to have a way to check out of our physical reality from time to time—in healthy ways, of course—and what better way to do that than with music? Let its healing power flow all through your sexy little body and do what it’s meant to: create, inspire, and impress an experience upon your being. Credit: Rachel Neal After viewing one of his shows, you’ll understand what I mean by “experience.” Brooks is known for his personalized high-energy performances, not to mention his wildly innovative improv talents and the speed at which he is able to play. He uses four mallets and often moves so fast up and down the face of the vibes it’ll make your head spin. Like a record. Right ‘round, baby. Right ‘round. It is truly a spectacular, unforgettable experience. And Brooks doesn’t just stick to jazz tunes, no. He has an ever-expanding repertoire that includes rock, blues, soul, and funk genres, as well as his own original tunes. He currently has four albums out, and they’re all available on his website and most streaming platforms. For each album, he composed, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered everything himself. His albums range from a meditative hand drum experience inspired by martial arts forms he has studied over the course of his life, to a meditation and relaxation album for stress relief, to albums with a mix of jazz, blues, funk, and soul. Each of his tunes reflect on a special person, time, or experience in his life. Credit: Rachel Neal Brooks isn’t just a musician though. He’s also a professional audio engineer and educator (with a doctorate from good ‘ole LSU (Geaux Tigers)) with over 30 years’ experience. And in 2021, after nearly 26 years in Baton Rouge as a music and audio educator, mentor, and performing musician within the Baton Rouge and South Louisiana community, he accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Audio Engineering at the University of North Alabama in their department of entertainment industry. Since settling up in the Shoals area, he has returned to his role of freelancing as a studio musician with numerous musical capabilities at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Brooks can be heard playing the vibraphone on Southern Retro Soul artists Bonneville’s recent self-titled album, currently out now, and playing the steel drum on Nashville’s Outlaw Country recording artist Rickie Joe Wilson’s song “Reggae Redneck,” also recently released. So, what are you still doing reading this article? Go! Go listen! Go watch! Go experience! For further info on Dr. Brooks, his music, upcoming shows, and/or his audio program, visit www.TheCharlesBrooks.com , Facebook @TheCharlesBrooksMusic, Instagram @Cbreezington, and YouTube @MFCharlieB73. Credit: Rachel Neal *All photos by Rachel Neal Pictures* 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 Death Toilet: What the Hell Did I Just Watch? Ezekiel Kincaid Share Nov 28, 2023 Death Toilet is a fun concept but is ultimately just a horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques and really bad storytelling. Rating: 1.5 out 5 toilet bowl stains Like many of the people who read these reviews, my sense of humor never graduated elementary school. As such, you can imagine my delight when I came across a movie called Death Toilet (2018) on Tubi. And speaking of Tubi, allow me to note that it is one of the best free streaming services for horrible movies. Take Death Toilet , for example. Any streaming service offering this movie obviously has no real standard … and I’m more than okay with that. It makes my job so much easier. I’ll start off by saying this: There are crappy movies, and then there is Death Toilet (see what I did there?). This film is on a level of awfulness all on its own. And if that’s not bad enough, the filmmaker thought it was a good idea to make four more of these movies. I’m not kidding. Now, I warn you, my faithful readers, this movie is bad. Like, really bad . It is so bad, I don’t know if there is a word in the English language to express this type of horrendous amalgamation of cheap cinematic techniques. The acting is worse than an elementary church musical; the special effects look like they came from the quarter machine at a grocery store; the props look like they came from Dollar General; and the script sounds like it was a class project for a bunch of third graders. That's me being nice. Death Toilet is directed by Evan Jacobs ( Insect, The Toll Collector ) and written by Mike Hartsfield. Hartsfield plays the main character in all the Toilet movies and is the one who came up with this original plot. So, from the get-go, at least it has that going for it. Death Toilet focuses on Brett Baxter (Hartsfield), a Vietnam vet. who comes home to take care of his dead brother’s affairs. Brett soon discovers the toilet in his brother’s house is not normal, and believes it might have something to do with his death. And Brett is right. Death Toilet opens with Brett’s brother getting stabbed in the crotch by the demon-possessed toilet and, goodness gracious, the crappy special effects start here. I’m certain the fake blood is nothing more than chocolate syrup because there’s a quick scene in the movie where viewers can clearly see a bottle of syrup sitting on the bathroom sink—a glaring accident that should've been caught during filming and if not then, at least in post-production. When the demon manifests in the toilet, a knife blade comes out of the seat. I have to say, this was pretty cool, but what ruined the effect for me was the dime-store-looking eyes floating around in the toilet bowl, and then the water turning red with a little food dye to indicate blood. After Brett moves in, it doesn’t take long for the toilet to start acting up. When he begins hearing laughing sounds coming from the bowl, Brett calls a plumber, but he can’t find anything wrong with it. As the film (and I use that word loosely) progresses, Brett suspects the toilet is possessed or haunted. So, what do you do if you think you have a haunted or possessed crapper in your house? Call a priest, of course! The man sent for the job is—and I kid you not—Father Dingleberry (Isaac Golub, who has directed a few music videos, and sadly passed away this past April). At first, our illustrious priest thinks this is all a joke. Then, the demon manifests in the toilet, and a less-than-lackluster battle between good and evil ensues. I won’t give away the ending, just in case any of you readers decide to subject yourself to it. All in all, Death Toilet was a huge letdown for me. With a runtime of around 54 minutes, I can honestly say it was still too long. About ten minutes into the movie, I was seriously questioning my life choices. About fifteen minutes in, I was debating turning it off. By twenty minutes, I was wondering if I could make it through to the end. Then, I thought about you. My readers. How could I let you down? It was time for me, the one who prides himself on being able to endure such trash, to pony up. So, I did. I made it through Death Toilet in its entirety. All for you, folks. My tolerance has now leveled up in a big way, and I am proud of myself. Where most would have faltered and turned it off (like my fiancé did, who was watching it with me over video chat), I endured. Don’t ever say Zeke didn’t do anything for you! In my mind, what needs to happen with these movies is this: A studio with a bigger budget should snatch this up. The idea is great and would be an epic B movie with better acting and better special effects. Someone out there, please do this, because I'd love to see a remake done right! I can’t believe I am suggesting this, but if any of y’all want me to watch the rest of the Death Toilet "franchise" and review it, I will. All you need to do is send us an email with "For Zeke!" as the subject and I'll get it. And I’m sure, like other choices I’ve made in life, I’ll end up regretting it, but hey, this is what I do and I love it. Where to watch: Tubi. If you actually want to pay for it: YouTube Premium and Google Play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH7G2UwBME8 Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Change operates as a cyclical force of nature, and it’s time for another cycle. < Back Finding the Middle Ground: Striking Balance in Louisiana’s Evolving Music Scene Nick Cline Jun 14, 2025 Share Change operates as a cyclical force of nature, and it’s time for another cycle. Change—what is it, really ? Change embodies a balance between beauty and disaster; it's an essential part of every journey in life. Music, along with the passion that fuels it, has been a cornerstone of the human experience since time immemorial. It's an incredibly intricate concept that we have barely begun to explore. Lafayette's music scene, and perhaps even the entire state, represents a piece of a puzzle that is rapidly shifting in search of its perfect fit. The irony is that it may never fit perfectly. Nothing is meant to fit 100%. This imperfection is part of the beautiful dynamic that drives passion, art, and the courage to find one's place in life, society, and the universe. Change operates as a cyclical force of nature , and it’s time for another cycle to traverse through the walls and concert halls of our community. Lafayette is the epicenter of Louisiana music. Regardless of the state's history, Lafayette has conspired to create a landscape rich with honed talent, new passions, and everything in between. The local scene is becoming a catalyst for change, as alternative mindsets and sounds are asserting their place. I should note that I'm relatively new to this scene—I've only been involved for about two years. I'm not originally from Louisiana, so my perspective is, at worst, a leap of faith. Ultimately, I am just an artist trying to carve out my niche in a world that has presented me with numerous challenges since childhood. From my observations, balance is critical for the survival of this scene. A balance of ego, work ethic, passion, and various other factors will be essential for its future. It can begin to thrive, but it should aim for more than mere survival. With proper care and the right mindset, this scene can become a powerful force of personality and passion. Currently, there is a power struggle among bands, venues, promoters, and us. People are forgetting that music is a collaborative effort. Music cannot exist without a solid foundation of support to fill in the gaps of the scene. The alternative scene is a collective of individuals who are contributing new pieces to the legacy of Louisiana music. This community is growing every day, driven by a mission of goodwill, inclusion, and the cultivation of music, along with many other positive ideals. What’s remarkable about this collective is that it is not genre exclusive. It serves as a meeting ground for the unconventional and the overlooked. It’s a space where one can discover oneself both musically and personally—a rare moment that continues to evolve. This community fosters ongoing support for one another, built on passion and inclusivity, regardless of genre or background. Most importantly, it stands on the belief that art is a powerful concept that will endure even in troubled times. Art is one of the many building blocks of change in societal understanding. Only time will tell what lies ahead for Louisiana and its music scene. For now, it is in its infancy, a growing force poised to unleash a cyclone of creativity. Its spark has recently ignited, and it’s just a matter of time before it fully manifests. That said, the community must strive for hard work, genuine artistry, and the willingness to explore new sonic landscapes without clinging to an image or preconceived notions. An image means nothing without the quality to back it up. Having a platform is irrelevant if there is nothing truly unique and powerful to express. Many can speak, but very few can truly inspire. The scene is navigating a direction that we all need to embrace, or risk being left behind. A powerful new era is upon us, and the music scene will enter this age armed with passion, creativity, influence, inclusivity, cultivation, job opportunities, and so much more. The burgeoning job market will align with the community's strength, allowing artists to become multifaceted creators. Photographers and commission artists will stand at the forefront of this economic shift, progressing in tandem with the music industry. These various artistic pursuits need to work in tandem to survive and transform into a storm of possibility. In conclusion, let me emphasize my final thoughts. Hope, creativity, inclusion, and cultivation represent the new wave of Louisiana music. We are mere specks in the vast landscape of possibilities within the universe. We must make the most of our time, for no one else will live our lives for us. It is our duty to ensure that we live meaningfully, serving both ourselves and the cultivation of a brighter future for the arts, culture, and society as a whole. We are the change we’ve always wanted to see. It’s time to prove it, to show it, and to live it. We are the change that the community has been waiting for. Thank you for reading. 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

Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. < Back Sons of Anarchy: Bingeworthy Keeley Brooks Sep 25, 2023 Share Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. Welcome to Bingeworthy, the place where we’ll tell you all about some of our favorite shows out there that are totally worth your undivided attention and that cozy imprint of your backside on your couch. Sometimes our binge-worthy recommendations will be new series, sometimes they’ll be older series, but one thing’s for sure: They’ll always be bitchin’ series worth every second of your precious little time. First up on our binge-worthy list is one of the best gritty action crime dramas to ever grace our TV screens (and one of my personal favorites), the adrenalized outlaw motorcycle club drama Sons of Anarchy . I’ll admit, the biker world has always captivated me, ever since 2000 when I first heard, then saw, then rode a Harley; after that, I was hooked and forever changed. That was well before Sons of Anarchy, back when the hit reality TV series American Chopper was infiltrating the airwaves. And while American Chopper was responsible for generating biker-enthusiast interest amongst the general public, it was really Sons of Anarchy that satiated our desire for that juicy insider perspective, even if it was fictional. Sons of Anarchy roared into our lives on their Hogs with their leathers in 2008, forever changing the FX Network and catching the undivided attention of millions of viewers. The series is created, written, produced, and directed by Kurt Sutter , who also stars in as tortured incarcerated club member Otto Delaney. Sutter is also responsible for the creation of Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. , and—fun fact—in real life, he is married to actress Katey Sagal ( Married with Children ), who in Sons of Anarchy plays club matriarch Gemma Teller Morrow. Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter The widow of former club president and original founding member John Teller, Gemma is now married to the current Sons of Anarchy president, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman, of Hellboy ). As Clay's old lady, she's smart, mouthy, tough, and loyal, but she’s also a bully—the kind who doesn’t think twice about using a skateboard to bitch-smack a chick across the face. Gemma is the kind of woman who can give and take a beating like a champ and she's fiercely protective of her family; she's also intensely maternal to the members of SAMCRO as well as the citizens of Charming. As Queen Mother of the club, she’s a master manipulator, constantly having to scheme to keep her secrets hidden and ensure her power continues to grow. While she is loyal to her family and the Sons of Anarchy, she’s most loyal to herself. But then I suppose as a woman wrapped high up in an outlaw motorcycle club, she kind of has to be, right? Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman as Gemma and Clay Morrow Sons of Anarchy is a no-bullshit motorcycle drama with darkly comedic undertones about a club built on hopes, dreams, loyalty, and brotherhood that becomes tainted with lies, secrets, and betrayals when guns, drugs, and violence infiltrate the core of the Sons’ foundation. The series uses its narratives to explore the brutal realities of vigilantism, government corruption, and racism through a plot that depicts an outlaw motorcycle club as a visceral analogy for human transformation , and that is where the show hooks and draws you in. Sons of Anarchy follows the heart-wrenching story of Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam, of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword ), club vice president and Gemma’s son with the late John Teller, as he struggles to find balance between fatherhood and honoring his personal relationships while remaining loyal to his club, which is slowly unraveling from the inside out. Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller In Season 1, Jax finds and begins reading his father’s memoirs, which focus on John’s vision for the club and its future, which never included running guns and drugs. Jax comes across a specific passage that reads, “A true outlaw finds the balance between the passion in his heart and the reason in his mind. The outcome is the balance of might and right.” This defines Jax’s dilemma throughout the entire series. Jax grew up around the M.C. and at his core is just a boy who lost his father to madness after the death of his first son (and Jax’s brother), Thomas. As good writing tends to do, Sons of Anarchy revisits this theme in Jax’s adulthood when he faces a harrowing situation with his first-born son, Abel. There's some heavy drama around the birth of Jax’s son, around his on-again/off-again relationship with his high school sweetheart (and future wife and baby mama) Tara (Maggie Siff, of Billions ), and around the crumbling sanity of everyone involved as they sink deeper and deeper into the very things that the original founding members prided themselves on avoiding. Also known as SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original) and Sam Crow (the personification of the acronym, the Sons of Anarchy are an extremely loyal, tight-knit club operating both legal and illegal businesses in the quaint, fictional town of Charming, located in the Central California valley. Here, the Sons work together in their own ways with local law enforcement and other area clubs and local VIPs to keep Charming safe and to ensure the Sons’ control of that safety. L to R: Tig, Opie, Chibs, Juice, Bobby, Tara, Jax, Clay, and Gemma Legally, SAMCRO owns and operates Teller-Morrow Automotive Repair Shop and has a stake in the local porn and escort industries. Illegally, they run guns for the Irish—yep, the Irish are involved … both the IRA and the Belfast charter of the Sons of Anarchy . The drama unfolding here (and believe me, there’s a ton) establishes the first three seasons, indicating that some major action goes down revolving around (and exposing) some secret history between SAMCRO and the Irish. This ultimately becomes the catalyst for everything that plays out through the remaining four seasons. Sons of Anarchy doesn’t just introduce us to SAMCRO, though; it also gives us a taste of other clubs and crime syndicates in the area: the Mayans M.C., Latinos controlling North Cali, Nevada, and Vegas with a charter in Oakland; the Pirelli Crime Family, an Italian-American Mafia family; the Nordics, a white supremacist drug-dealing gang with ties to the Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang and crime syndicate; the Grim Bastards, a mostly Black club based in Lodi who are allies with the Sons of Anarchy; and the One-Niners (“the Niners”), an all-Black, drug-dealing, gun-buying street gang in Oakland. Oh, the Russian mafia is also involved, as are the A.T.F., the D.E.A., and the Asst. District Attorney for the U.S. Government, who is soft-spoken, pun-appreciating, and unnerving all at once. They’re all sniffing around like packs of wild dogs salivating over a piece of bloody meat. So, there’s that conflict to contend with as well. Speaking of conflict, Sons of Anarchy features some pretty volatile beefs inter-politically, racially, within SAMCRO, between SAMCRO and other clubs, between SAMCRO and law enforcement, between SAMCRO and some of its own charters, amongst and between law enforcement, and between individual characters. Then there are the bits of drama silently brewing that viewers don’t even know about until Sutter throws it in your face and leaves you wondering what the hell just happened. Expect a lot of smack talk, fist fights, shoot-outs in the street, high-speed motorcycle chases, and gruesome acts of violence, retribution, and war in addition to chick fights, biker parties, weddings, funerals, betrayals, and insider shenanigans. All of this is awesome, yes, but it isn’t the reason Sons of Anarchy is such a heart-stealer: Its intricate narrative woven together by emotionally deep characters operating under the tenet of undying brotherhood and loyalty is ... its exposure of human transformation. The only question is who that undying loyalty is to: themselves, their town, or their club. And I can assure you that just when you think you know the answer, Sutter proves you wrong and again leaves you sitting in disbelief. On the surface, Sons of Anarchy is just a show about a biker club. Beneath that, it’s the raw story of a blended family (Jax’s family with Tara, which consists of his child with another woman and his child with Tara) within the story of a blended family (the Teller-Morrows) within the story of a blended family (SAMCRO). Sons of Anarchy is rife with fascinating subplots that twist and turn with precision to present a very specific message played out by interesting characters whose dilemmas do a number on your heart strings. You see, everyone in Charming has a backstory (and an army of secrets), and they’re all working together and behind each other’s backs to secure one thing: safety … safety of the club, of themselves, and of Charming, which is quite ironic when you think about it: A town called Charming, full of people who’d put their life on the line to keep it safe, is anything but. As each season rolls on, and there are seven of them, you’ll find yourself falling deeper in love not just with the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club but also with its individual members, like Juice (Theo Rossi, of Army of the Dead ), Chibs (Tommy Flanagan, of Power Book IV: Force ), Tig (Kim Coates, of Bad Blood ), Sheriff Wayne Unser (Dayton Callie, of Fear the Walking Dead ), and Opie (Ryan Hurst, of The Walking Dead ), to name a few. You’ll love them, laugh with them and at them, cry with them and for them, hurt with them and for them, support them in their quests for retribution, and share their foundation of family and brotherhood … loyalty with no questions asked. Even though these guys are outlaws, they have their own private sense of morality and their own very real, very human, loving, meaningful relationships. Sons of Anarchy crescendos with tender, genuine, heartfelt moments laced with chaos and fear, and it shows us what anyone is capable of when threatened with exposure, destruction, and/or death. In the case of SAMCRO, they all have good hearts; they just can’t deny their outlaw nature, and that’s where who they truly are gets misconstrued. There’s a great scene where Gemma tells someone who is admitting they pre-judged the club that, “Most people just have an impression of who bikers are corrupted by opinions of others without ever having any sort of true idea who they ever really are.” This statement applies to more than just bikers, especially today, and one thing Sons of Anarchy indelibly teaches us is that books cannot and must not be judged by their covers. And for all the effort to do good that happens in the beginning of Sons of Anarchy , by Season 4, the narrative grows much darker and much more evil, with the bonds of love, family, and brotherhood morphing into fear and greed as old secrets come to light, shady new alliances form that align the club with the Mexican drug cartel--something the original founding members never wanted to happen--and the arrival of a whole new level of law enforcement ready and willing to throw their manhood around loud and proud whenever they feel it’s necessary. The Mexican drug cartel, the Galindos, are also featured in Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. Seasons 5, 6, and 7 are full of adrenaline and shockingly tense moments, as this narrative takes some wild, unexpected twists and turns that will have you all over the emotional scale. The reason Sons of Anarchy works so well is because it's not a show about souping up Harleys or anything like that. Sutter was very careful to be true to those who live the life in the way that any smart creator would: by ensuring he treated the respective subject matter with appropriate respect, and he did. Something most viewers didn’t know at the time Sons of Anarchy aired is that the show features some real-life Hell’s Angels bikers . David Labrava, who plays Happy Lowman—the club’s assassin—is a recurring character and he also served as the show’s technical advisor. Rusty Coones and Chuck Zito were also Hell’s Angels members who appeared as part of the Nomads charter and came onto the show in later seasons to, quite frankly, stir shit up. And, the infamous Hell’s Angels most feared leader, Sonny Barger, also makes several appearances. Barger was the founding member of the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels and was instrumental in unifying varying disparate Hell’s Angels chapters. He had the club incorporated in 1966. L to R: Chuck Zito, David. Labrava, Sonny Barger, Rusty Coones Additionally, Sons of Anarchy features a host of other guest appearances, such as Joel McHale ( Community) , Jimmy Smits ( Dexter ), Donal Logue ( Gotham ), Dave Navarro (of Jane’s Addiction and Ink Master ), Peter Weller ( Longmire ), Danny Trejo ( Machete ), Walton Goggins ( Justified ), CCH Pounder ( NCIS: New Orleans ), Robert Patrick ( Terminator series), Drea De Matteo ( The Sopranos ), Kim Dickens ( Fear the Walking Dead ), and horror author Stephen King. They all show up as interesting characters, each with their own secrets and quirks, further driving our curiosity (and obsession) with this binge-worthy series that can best be described as a mix of The Sopranos and Hamlet with motorcycles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paBZJJXUEtg Is More of the SoA Universe on the Way? Sutter set off chatter on Twitter during COVID lockdown that he had plans for a sequel to Sons of Anarchy entitled Sam Crow , a show that would center on Jax's son, Abel. "I had this revelation between [ Sons of Anarchy ] and Mayans that the SoA mythology would be four shows: Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C., First Nine, and Sam Crow. First Nine would be a limited series. Nine episodes. It would end before we began to tread on the history we created in Sons [i.e. a prequel]. Sam Crow would be the fate of Wendi (Drea De Matteo), Nero (Jimmy Smits), Abel, and Thomas." Both Charlie Hunnam and Theo Rossi seemed to confirm rumors of a possible new Sons of Anarchy project. Speaking at Liverpool Comic Con in May 2022, Hunnam told the audience, "There's something in that universe that doesn't involve Jax Teller but does involve me that we're sort of cooking up," hinting he could "possibly" appear in a follow-up series. "I have an idea that I''m exploring in its infancy where that could be a possibility." In March 2023 while speaking with Deadline , Theo Rossi teased an "insane" new Sons of Anarchy project: "There might be something coming up where we're all back together, which is insane. If it happens, it's wild." When asked if this might be an idea for a Sons of Anarchy movie, Rossi smiled cryptically and said, "It's totally different. It's really cool." While nothing has officially been confirmed, I'd say it's safe to remain hopeful that we'll see some sort of Sons of Anarchy return in one way or another. Now, if you've seen the series, you might be wondering how that'd be possible given the fates of some of the characters. In my best The Big Lebowski 's Walter Sobchak voice, "There are ways, dude. Believe me, there are ways." Sons of Anarchy is currently streaming on Hulu, or you can rent or purchase on Google Play, Prime Video, Roku, and Vudu. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with 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

It's time for her to be heard! < Back Britney Spears: A Stifled Talent Nicole Brice Apr 25, 2024 Share It's time for her to be heard! Born and raised near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I’ve always felt a strange connection to the pop star known as Britney Spears . I always like to tell people my music tastes range from the music of Britney Spears to the metal masters of Slayer , which it actually does. Good music is good music, right? If it resonates with you, then that means something. I didn’t always like Britney's music, though. In the beginning, I thought it sounded too processed and fake. As the years passed, I would come to appreciate the music she was putting out and it became the soundtrack to the life I wanted. Also, too, I have always thought Britney’s public persona in the early years was my alter ego if I had the balls to truly be me. Instead, I am shy and timid, and I hide, but given the interviews and reports throughout the years on Ms. Spears, I feel she isn’t much different. She comes off as a very sweet and genuine human being who has been molded and shaped to fit the agenda of those who benefit from her talent. Initially when Britney came on the scene in 1999, I was envious and jealous of her beauty, career, and fame. After all, there was a girl the same age as me, from the same state as me, living out her dreams and I felt it just wasn’t fair, but who was I to be jealous of an individual with remarkable talent when I can’t carry a tune much less dance. Now, at 42 years old, I feel connected to the pop sensation more than ever due to us both being born in 1981, being mothers, and both having our families turn on us during times of need. I also feel, too, like me that Britney is gravely misunderstood. Beneath the sad eyes and erratic videos of her half naked dances, I see a woman confused on life, confused on her identity, and just plain confused about what she should do or where she should turn. She seems lost and hopeless but puts on a smile for her fans and does the only thing she has ever known to do, sell her body, in hopes that she is seen and heard . Britney’s talent goes far beyond her half-naked romps on the beach, though. She can sing and although her voice has been stifled all these years by those wanting her to portray a sexier image, proof of her true raw talent is on the track, “ Just Like Me ” from her album, “ Glory ”, released in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffY6tMjo-pU “ Just Like Me ” starts with a simple acoustic guitar and only Britney's beautiful voice. The song then builds to a thunderous chorus and a hypnotizing electronic beat only to revert to the insatiable acoustic guitar sound. One of her most underrated songs in my opinion and proof that Britney’s voice is both soulful and full of heart. With reports saying she is on substances; I can see right through that. While I do not know the details of what is truly going on in her life, I do know she is throwing away amazing talent. If someone would just encourage her to write and record an album with an actual band playing music as the backing track instead of prefabricated mumbo jumbo made in the studio, I think everyone would see an entirely different side to Ms. Spears. Her voice is strong, and phenomenal. In fact, no one in the industry has ever sounded like her. I, for one, want her to use her voice to entertain the masses, but in a way she has never done before. No dance moves and no theatrical stage show. Just Britney on stage with her voice. Britney’s true voice, the one not sounding like a sex kitten, is bold and fierce and it needs to be seen and heard before it’s too late. “ Change Your Mind ” is another track that stands out amongst Ms. Spears’ catalog with its simple stripped-down intro that leads to a thundering bass and dance beat. Her strong vocals are heard in the first few bars of the track, and it is exquisite. In a world full of autotune, Britney does not really need it, yet the music industry has always forced it upon her. Why? Why not allow this beautiful human to just be who she is and showcase her unique voice? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS-COdwk0ow In fact, I feel her album, “ Glory ” is one of the most underrated albums ever. Almost every song is amazing, and her voice sounds so mature and womanly. It’s my go to album when I need to get into a certain headspace. Click the picture to experience "Glory" all over again. With all the negative press surrounding her lately, I think that starting today we should usher in a new era for Ms. Spears. Instead of speculating on her personal life and allowing others to trash her publicly, let us lift her up. In fact, I think we should initiate a “Free Britney’s voice” campaign. It’s 2024 and it’s time for Ms. Spears’ talent to make a comeback of unprecedented proportions. Let her music speak for her. Who’s with me? Society needs to stop beating people when they are down, and instead focus on the positive attributes these individuals possess. Spread love and kindness, I say! For me, I’d like to see less of a focus on individuals’ personal lives and more focus on talent. Let the music flourish. Music soothes the soul, after all, so who’s to say if Britney were pushed to record again with her rules and with her pure raw voice that we wouldn’t see something spectacular? Britney, if you end up reading this, you are amazing. Your talent is unparalleled, and you are an icon. Know that even though you may never meet any of us fans in person that we are all rooting for you and that we love you. You cannot be replaced. Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

< Back What the Hell Did I Just Watch: The Howling: New Moon Rising Ezekiel Kincaid Share Jul 26, 2023 A werewolf movie so bad, you have to see it to believe it Gather ‘round, aspiring movie directors and scriptwriters! It’s time for you to take notes on how to successfully kill a franchise in this edition of What the Hell Did I Just Watch . I want y’all to get acquainted with The Howling: New Moon Rising , also released as Howling: New Moon Rising and Howling VII: Mystery Woman . Never heard of it? Good! Let me remedy that for you. For some unknown reason, my high school self bought this movie years ago on VHS. I was going through my collection the other day when I saw it and said, “Hmm, I don’t remember ever watching this one.” So, I popped it into the VCR and hit “Play” … then the suppressed memories came flooding back. Twenty minutes in, I remembered why I’d suppressed them in the first place. Now, I might be wrong, but I have a conspiracy theory as to why this movie sucks so badly. I think there was a challenge made, or a wager, where someone said, “Hey, I bet no one out there can make The Howling sequels even worse.” Directors Clive Turner and Roger Nall heard about the challenge and said, “Here, hold our beers.” Don’t believe me? Well, that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it. I just don’t think it is possible to make a movie this bad unless there is some intentionality behind it. Surely these filmmakers couldn’t have been taking this movie seriously, could they? Or maybe they were … and that thought is scarier than anything in this low budget sewerfest. Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. The film is the seventh in the series and is a direct-to-video movie made in 1995—four years after the previous entry, The Howling VI: The Freaks . Turner and Nall should have ended the torture and stopped there, but they couldn’t leave well enough alone. Neither had ever directed a movie before, and they both made their debut with The Howling VII: New Moon Rising . The plot is simple: A lone, red-haired drifter from Australia strolls in and settles in a small town. When he does, strange murders begin to happen, all of which trace back to him. Our lone cowboy, Ted Smith, is played by none other than Clive Turner himself, who also stars in The Howling V: The Rebirth . Clive Turner as Ted Smith All the other (and I use the term loosely) actors in this movie go by their real-life first names, and the only recognizable face is Mary Lou ( Elizabeth Shé ), who was the main character in The Howling V and The Howling VI . Elizabeth Shé as Mary Lou She has some scenes in The Howling: New Moon Rising that end up linking all three sequels together. And that is the only redeemable thing in this movie. To start off, there’s lots of line dancing. Most of the movie is set in a country western bar. All the people in this town do all day is drink beer and line dance. At first, I thought, “Okay, cool, a line-dancing scene,” thinking it was just one. Yet there continues to be scene after scene after scene of pointless line dancing that adds nothing to the story. I think ole Turner and Nall were just proud of everyone’s skill and wanted to show it off a hundred times. That’s the only thing that makes sense in my mind as to why there is so much of it in the movie. And gore? Those visceral kills we all love to see in werewolf movies? There are none. None! You never get to see the werewolf kill anyone. You see TWO dead bodies the entire movie, and it's after the fact. Even then, all the dead bodies have on them are a few gashes. You never get the satisfaction of seeing a bloody kill, dismemberment, decapitation, or disembowelment. The only cool scenes are the flashbacks from the previous installments. Now, let’s talk werewolf transformations . Maybe they were saving the big payoff for this? That’s what I was hoping anyway. If that’s what you’re hoping, too, prepare to be disappointed. The transformation scene is a huge letdown. All we see are some cheap camera tricks on whatever camcorder they filmed the movie and then boom, a person dressed in a rubber werewolf mask shows up on screen. You’re in luck here, because in place of a movie trailer, all that seem to exist online are various scenes from the film, and it just so happens the werewolf transformation is one of them. So, for your viewing pleasure … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLGTQEHwOyU Jump back to 2021 for a second. Did you happen to see Werewolves Within —the who-done-it werewolf movie? If not, you can find it on Apple TV, Vudu, Roku, Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. The Howling: New Moon Rising tries to do some clever plot twists to keep you guessing who the real werewolf is, like Werewolves Within did, but it fails miserably. It is so outlandish, stupid, and confusing at times, and weird plot shit just keeps coming out of left field. I wish I could say, “Great writing job, fellas!” but I can’t. Should you watch this movie? Yes, you should. Why? Because it is THAT BAD and you have to see it to believe it. Besides, if I had to sit through it, so should you. Misery loves company. The Howling: New Moon Rising got a whopping 1.8/10 stars on IMDb. Me? I give this movie one 1 of 5 drunken line dancers. You can find The Howling: New Moon Rising streaming on Amazon Prime, Screambox, Freevee, and Tubi. You’re welcome. 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

New year, new music! < Back April Playlist Picks: Way Back When Nicole Brice Apr 7, 2025 Share New year, new music! April is the beginning of the “new year” officially for me, and so, in light of that, here are some random tunes to get your “new year” going. 1. Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express ‘ Trans Europe Express ’ is one of those songs that just fascinated me. Hell, just Kraftwerk is fascinating. 1977 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv8_EZrNhpY 2. Julia Michaels – Pink While this song does have naughty undertones, it’s fun to sing along to, and Julia Michaels is just a fantastic singer, songwriter, and performer. I had the pleasure of seeing her live a few years ago when she performed at The Varsity Theatre in Baton Rouge . This song is special to me, though, because it was through this song that my nonverbal autistic son began speaking more. I think it’s Julia’s kind tone that he picks up on with her singing that resonates with him so much. 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FtjfDPas7s 3. Depeche Mode - Wrong ‘ Wrong ’ is one of those Depeche Mode songs that you truly cannot visualize until you see the video. Watch the video and then listen to the song. Great tune. 2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnrrLxQEVQ 4. New Order – Truth Classic New Order – ‘nuff said. Coincidentally, this song was released the year I was born. 1981 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMXwzhNOO9o 5. Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive One of my favorite Bon Jovi songs of all time! Soooo good! 1987 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho Hey, if you don't like these, cool. If you've never heard them, check them out! Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Keyton's music is delivering emotional songwriting with energetic delivery as he prepares to embark on a mini tour. < Back Off the Charts: Keyton Bud Gambrell Sep 10, 2024 Share Keyton's music is delivering emotional songwriting with energetic delivery as he prepares to embark on a mini tour. Before introducing you to Keyton , I will give you some background on how and when we met. This story begins in 2023. I was preparing for my Sidetracks book launch at Rocket Republic on July 15, 2023. Keyton took time to come by and support me in purchasing a book. I will tell you this now because that book will appear later in the interview. Our second meeting came while I was on location taking photographs at Huntsville’s Porch Fest . Porch Fest is an annual community event held in Five Points. This year, it was held on May 04, 2024. It was a busy day for me as I was shooting porches up and down Pratt Ave. As I was at Porch #3 , I ran into Keyton again. I took time, and we had a nice but short conversation. I gave him my card and told him to call me, and we would meet sometime. This story now leads us up to August 20, 2024. I received a message from Keyton. “Hey Bud! Remember when you told me to hit you up when I had some stuff going on? Well, here I am! I've got a tour coming up in mid-September, and I just released a vinyl last month!”. I was deciding what the following article would be, and lo and behold, it fell out in front of me like Newton and his falling apple. Keyton and I decided to meet on a Sunday afternoon in downtown Huntsville. We met at BeeZr , a local pub/microbrewery. If you can visit BeeZr , grab a beer and order the crawfish tail and sausage cheesecake. It is delicious! Although Keyton and I had only met twice before, our conversation began and continued on like we were longtime friends with the interview lasting only 15 minutes, and after that we sat and talked even more for nearly two hours. In our conversation, we discussed everything from him using one name as his stage persona to his musical beginnings, the recording of the new album, and the new tour. We also briefly discussed his college education, and he informed me that he graduated from Jacksonville State with a B.S. in Chemistry. Go ahead! As I am curious, my first question was about using one name for your stage persona. Keyton does have a surname, Fike, but onstage, he goes by just Keyton. Read on to learn more. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Tell me why you use just one name as a musician and performer. KF : Well, I’m a mix between a person and an artist. I never intended for it to be like Madonna or Prince , but when I played my first show in 2005, my friend designed the flyer for it, and it had the bands playing, and it just said, Keyton. That's it. And I was like, I didn't have a band then. I didn't have a solo project then, just Keyton. I was like, alright, Keyton, it is. And that spiraled into shirts, CDs, buttons, and all the merch, and on and on. It's just something that I assumed. It's different from a performer's standpoint. The people at shows get to see the true artist. I know it sounds wild because it's like Prince, but from a musician's standpoint, it's emotional songwriting with energetic delivery. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : So, is only going by Keyton onstage like your true persona as an artist, you think? KF : Yeah, it is. And it was never intended to be that way, but I've just assumed it. People know me as The Musician when they hear my name. And it's a unique name, too. I wish I could say I had something to do with it being named that, but I didn't. It was just a thing that happened. OTC : Well, you were there, of course. (laughter) KF : I didn't get to weigh in, though. (laughter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_noYLJR5bo OTC : What got you into music? KF : I grew up in a household that always had music going. Neither of my parents played music, per se, but my dad was really into classic rock . He also liked The Black Crowes and AC/DC . He also liked Blues musicians like B.B. King . I remember that being on the radio when he was outside working on cars and stuff like that. And then my mom was into being in the choir at church. So, I also started singing at church, and from the young age of four or five years old, I would always sing and play toy guitars, so it's always been a part of me. My sisters sang as well, especially at church. They had a lot to do with it. It's just part of me, and it always will be, and I'm thankful for that. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Tell me about your music, and what inspired you to write the songs on your latest release. KF : Yep, so writing songs took a different approach this time around. I took a co-writing approach, the first time I've ever done that in my career. An artist named Billy the Kid , who used to play on the Vans Warped Tour , actually was a big part of the process this go-round. Billy is exceptional, and did a couple of other remarkable things in the Canadian music scene, too. For a time, she lived in Harvest , near me, before moving to Michigan recently. She was kind enough to write a couple of songs with me, and she has fantastic contacts also. We recorded it at the Pentavarit studio in Nashville . We went up there to record, and she asked whether I wanted some studio musicians to play on the song, which I agreed to, so she made a couple of phone calls, and the next thing I knew, I was in the studio with Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs , which is Jack White 's band, and Atom Willard from Alkaline Trio , a renowned punk rock band I've listened to for years. It was a fantastic experience! OTC : I know you're about to hit the road in support of your new album. Tell us a little about that and what we can expect. KF : The tour is going to be ten shows in 14 days. Technically, it kicks off on the 13th of September at The Camp in Huntsville, AL , but man, booking a tour is a tiring process. I don't know if you ever make cold calls to people who don't know who you are; they don't know anything about you. But it's like cold emailing venues and asking them if they'd have you on a particular night. And sometimes it's easier than other times because the weekends are hard to come by. Getting shows on weekends in towns where you've never really made a name for yourself can get discouraging. You spend hours and hours sending out emails to people over and repeatedly: just different cities and different towns. On top of that, I try to fill out the dates with local bands, so it's not just me playing. They'll have a draw, and the bars or venues are excited for me to be there and have a night of music. So yeah, that starts on the 13th. After that, we're going to Memphis, and then we'll go to New Orleans. Then we're going to play Orange Beach, and after that, I believe Anniston is a little east of Birmingham. And then north Atlanta and then got a couple of dates in North Carolina and Virginia. So, it's kind of a big loop coming back to Huntsville. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : Are there any venues that you've been to before that you're looking forward to getting back to, or are there any venues that you've booked that you're looking forward to playing at for the first time? KF : Yep, the venue in Charlotte that stands out for this tour is called The Milestone . If you go and look at the website , you will see that they keep a very detailed catalog of all the people that have played there. Nirvana is the one that immediately comes to mind. I will be playing on the same stage Nirvana played. It is impressive. The Milestone has been there for years and years, and it's kind of an underground, rock' n' roll, DIY venue that has persisted through the 60s until today. I can't wait to play at that place! OTC : Is this tour with a full band or a solo acoustic? KF : This will be a solo acoustic tour. It'll just be me and the person I have coming to sell merch along the way. And, you know, do a little heavy lifting when it comes to unloading and packing up at the night's end. It's hard to do by yourself and keep an eye on everything to ensure nobody walks off with a guitar or other things. It's hard to be in two places at once, so an extra set of hands and eyes will be handy. Credit: Bud Gambrell OTC : What is it about music that makes you feel passion? KF : When it comes to playing acoustic guitar, it's the rawest form of music you'll ever get. It is the closest to an idea in your head and playing chords that it will ever be. Because that's how many people write the songs, they'll sit down with an acoustic guitar and tab it out. They'll write out the lyrics and representation of that body of work. There's something to be said for playing with a full-band amplified version, but the most raw, poetic version you'll get of a song is acoustic. OTC : Yeah, I agree. Before we go any further, there's one of your videos on YouTube , and at the beginning of that video, there are some books on the table and one of those I recognized. How did that book get in that video? (laughter) KF : Ok, you got to be referring to the Sidetracks book. OTC : Yes, that's right. KF : So that book was incredible because I got a chance to go to Sidetracks a few times over the years before they closed. And I went to the release that you had. It was at Rocket Republic . Available NOW on Amazon.com OTC : That’s right. KF : The book was released, and it was vital for me to buy and own a copy. And because it encapsulates local music and music, you can see artists that have grown through the years. You can see artists that remain local legends. For me, it's a remarkable representation of that specific amount of time that Sidetracks was open, and you know, there's a little history in there, too. I'm a history nerd in music stuff, too. So that helped out as well. But yeah, that stack of books was just something that came up, and they wanted to have a scene that was like in a living room, and so I was looking around in my living room, and I had a couple of pieces of furniture. I guess I'll get this, I think I'll get this lamp, and I looked over there on my bookshelf, and that was one of the ones that I was like, Ok, yeah, I have to get this one little local flavor in there for the people that pay attention to that kind of stuff, and of course, I pointed it out. I pointed it out in one of those social media posts that I did, you know? Check out the stack of books. OTC : Yeah, on Instagram. That's how I knew it was there. KF : Right. And there are a couple of others. Unfortunately, I don't remember what they were at the time, but there were a couple of other books in there that were cool pieces of music history that pertained to me, too. OTC : I will link that video in the article, and we will point out that my book is in the video. KF : Yeah, of course. It's an official music video that has your book in it . I mean, how much cooler can it get? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUUDkidnkKE OTC : What do you like most about the life of a musician? What do you like the least? KF : The late nights I enjoy. However, late nights can also be rough the following day. It's kind of like burning the candle at both ends, especially, you know, on tours, if you know you're going to have to get up and drive five hours the next day, it's always good to know where you're going to be staying at the time. So it might be an air mattress or on somebody's couch, which, as you know, cannot be the best sleep you've ever had. So those late nights add up if you do it night after night. And mainly if you lie down and can't go to sleep. That's the worst thing. You can't control that sometimes, and it becomes increasingly apparent how people like Elvis became reliant on legal or non-legal substances to help them go to sleep and then help them wake up the next day. I couldn't imagine being on a sleep schedule that didn't work out night after night. The late nights are a blessing and a curse, but I wouldn't trade them for anything! Credit: Toby Satterfield OTC: What's the best piece of advice that another musician has given you? KF : Find a mentor. Find somebody who's been through the trials you're going through or will go through, listen to them, and hear the advice they have to give because they've been there before. They know what life is about. They know how it is, booking shows and shows out of town and being prepared for things and not for certain things. It's like listening to them so you don't have to make the same mistakes. But listening is an integral part of that aspect. Credit: Christina Wegman OTC: What are your plans for the remainder of 2024 going into 2025? What do you want to accomplish? KF : I'd like to release another EP. I will start writing hard and heavy when I return from this tour. The local shows might be a little less frequent than they have been, but I will start focusing on writing diligently and then getting back into the studio and recording something local. Nashville is cool. But Huntsville has grown, and there's a lot of talent, and you also know Decatur . I want to explore the local flavor a little more. OTC : Where do you do your best songwriting? What mood or atmosphere do you need to be in? KF : It's a mix. Sometimes, you sit down, and the song falls out. And you're thinking, oh my God, I can't believe I just wrote that down, and this came out of my brain. But other times, it's revolving around an event, and sometimes it's just more important to capture what you're going through then. You might not be able to write a song if you happen to be going through something. But capturing those ideas is essential, and you can always come back and revisit them later. Usually, those life-changing moments are the best songs if you capture them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBnwAW0JsIY OTC : Do you have anything else you want to say or add so that readers will know more about you or anything you have coming up? KF : If you want to keep track of me, go to keytonmusic.com or look up Keyton Music on all the socials. You know, Facebook , Instagram , all that good stuff. And yeah, listen to a couple of the songs, and maybe catch me live, too, if I come to your town. This interview with Keyton was delightful for me. It was one of those days where it honestly didn’t feel like work. We shared a couple of beers over a good conversation. We shared a few stories in our conversation that are not covered here. We may still be sitting there chatting if we didn’t have to move on with our lives. The bottom line here. Get to one of Keyton’s shows . He plays with an energetic but heartfelt style that will keep you entertained. Until next time, Keep your diamond down in the groove! Where to find Bud: Email : the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com Website : 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 Where to find Keyton: Website : keytonmusic.com Keyton | Indie Musician | Official Website Official website of rock musician Keyton. Music, Biography, Contact, Live Concert Dates, Photos, and more from the Alabama indie acoustic artist.... *Cover photo by Morgan Worsham Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Alternative music will have a huge impact on 2025. < Back Nick's Corner: January 2025 Recs Nick Cline Jan 7, 2025 Share Alternative music will have a huge impact on 2025. Hello everyone! First, I would like to apologize for the lateness of this one. December and January are some of the craziest times of the year, as most of you can attest. But, besides that, welcome! Welcome to the first playlist picks for 2025. I want to thank all of y'all for the support you've been giving since I started at this magazine in June of last year. I am very grateful for all the opportunities and people I have met through this magazine, and I hope to continue meeting all of you beautiful people in the future. Okay, enough with the yapping. Let's get into it! 1 Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice In Chains Click to listen Deets about the track : First up on the chopping block is this beautiful song from 90s legends Alice in Chains . This song is from their 2009 album, Black Gives Way to Blue . It is the title track of the album that we will be discussing today. The song, ' Black Gives Way to Blue ', is a song that gets me through the harsh months of December and January. It is a tonal masterpiece that will leave chilling reminders of your triumphs, darkness, and lives ahead of you and the lives before now. It is perfect for that somber feeling of winter, and it can give you hope to push past the harshness of the past year into the greatness you will become in this new year. 2 Bleed by Kris Russ Click to listen Deets about the track : Next up is a local Louisiana act, Kris Russ . His song ' Bleed ' is an absolute banger. It is a grand testament to the possibilities of the music scenes in Louisiana. His mixing of early 2000s alternative and pop rock is a masterful determination of sonic mixing with modern sounds. The lyricism hits every note of the broken-hearted minds that will find his music inspiring and soothing. I can't wait to see what awaits Kris Russ in 2025, so I hope y'all feel the same after checking out his music. Follow Kris Russ closely because he has crafted a sound all his own. 3 Drywall by Goodbye Academy Click to listen Deets about the track : The following two picks will be more local acts that light the stage on fire with every note and beat they lay across. First up, Goodbye Academy . Goodbye Academy is a band located in the Baton Rouge area, and let me tell you, everyone needs to treat themselves to their live set. They are a powerful trio of musicians with so much energy and personality, and their sound reflects this in perfect unity. Their song, ' Drywall ', is the ideal introduction to their music that fuses the sounds of midwest emo , punk , and high-octane rock . Please do yourself a favor and check out this song and their catalog. You will not be disappointed! 4 Daydream by Jean Claude Seagal and The Gosh Darn Dangs Click to listen Deets about the track : Next up, we have the last local pick for this installment. Welcome, Jean Claude Seagal . Their sound is reminiscent of alternative legends of the 80s and 90s, but they fit in the modern twist of hard rock and punk . The song I want to show off today is ' Daydream .' This song is a special treat to listeners because it shows off another great band, The Gosh Darn Dangs . They are an amazing group to check out as well. This song offers sonic pleasures that will show off both sides of the two bands involved in the project. ' Daydream ' reminds me of Dinosaur Jr. in every significant way, but it has its sonic uniqueness that I genuinely feel deserves more love. Mixing fuzzy, spacey melodies, progressive drum styles, and pounding bass lines offer a sonic palette that will satisfy just about anybody. Do yourself a favor and check out this band of wickedly talented people. 5 Dragonaut by Sleep Click to listen Deets about the track : The last of this first playlist picks is Sleep 's wicked song, ' Dragonaut .' The stoner rock legends Sleep offer a different light to the playlist picks. They are a heavy, droning, and ready to beat your eardrums into the ground type of band. If you are a fan of old-school Black Sabbath and a fan of walls of fuzz, then you are in luck because these guys offer that in strides. Please do yourself a favor and check out Sleep and their discography. They have cemented themselves as legends in the stoner rock genre. This song is an excellent introduction to them because of its familiar feel of blues-influenced rock with that twist of walls of fuzz, droning melodies, and a rhythm section that could floor just about anybody. Check these tracks out and let me know what you think. -Nick- www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 4: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 31, 2023 Share Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. We’re back, folks, with our fourth and final lesson in John Kramer’s philosophical nihilism. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey, and I hope it has at least made you think, along with challenging your perception of the Saw franchise. For today’s blue-collar philosophy lesson, we are going to look at radical nihilism and how John Kramer (Tobin Bell, of Finders Keepers ) fits that rubric. Let’s go ahead and jump in, shall we? Radical nihilism can be summed up as a “destructive” philosophy. What I mean by that is this: A radical nihilist usually has no loyalties, believes in nothing, and sees their purpose as to destroy. This is because they have a dissatisfaction that comes from their recognition that they live in a world where their ideal values will never exist. The “world as it is” is the greatest hindrance to the radical nihilist, so much so that they seek to negate and destroy its inherent moral, religious, and political values so their own can flourish. Now, let’s apply this paradigm to John Kramer in the Saw franchise. Can his ideal of “appreciating life” exist in the world as it is? Another pertinent question we need to raise concerns Jigsaw’s aim: Is it really to change others or to change the world by destroying others? Because, as a radical nihilist, the only way to bring change is through destroying what is. I am going to argue that John Kramer’s goal is not to incite true change in others, but to annihilate others, thus changing the world as is . A good example of this is Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Anger Management ). She is proof positive that Jigsaw cannot change people’s value system. For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise, Amanda is Kramer’s first survivor. She becomes the case study and poster girl for Jigsaw that his therapy “works.” However, as the story unfolds throughout the Saw franchise, it becomes abundantly clear she is not “cured.” Amanda with Jigsaw, courtesy of Lionsgate Kramer then takes it upon himself to retest Amanda. The fact he has to do this proves his methods of rehabilitation are sorely inadequate. Amanda herself even agrees with this failure and says, “Nobody is reborn.” This all takes place in Saw III (2006) and, moments later, is followed up by Jeff’s willingness to kill Jigsaw. Speaking of Jeff (Angus Macfadyen, of Equilibrium ), let’s look at him for a moment, and then we’ll jump back to the scene mentioned above. In Saw III , Kramer asks Jeff to view Danica (Debra McCabe, of People of Earth ) and Timothy (Mpho Koaho, of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency ) as people who made mistakes rather than people who contributed to the death of his son. Jeff ends up failing to obtain this outlook and failing to rescue them from their traps. But not to worry, Kramer, our scholar on humanity, has factored in Jeff’s failure for the overarching game. Danica herself exposes the test’s very premise when she says, “I made a mistake … I’m human.” Jeff, too, is only human, and he will make mistakes leading to the death of others, which he does. Jeff then becomes a synecdoche for everyone involved in the game , including Jigsaw and Amanda. But it goes deeper. Jeff serves a larger purpose. He isn’t Kramer’s test subject, all of humanity is. There was never any chance Jeff’s values or perspective would change. He, like Kramer and everyone else, is flawed by belonging to the world as it is. Let’s jump back to the scene in Saw III with Jeff, Kramer, and Amanda, where Jeff is wanting to kill Kramer. In coming face-to-face with the inadequacy of his own methods, and Jeff’s desire to kill him, Jigsaw asks Jeff, “You haven’t learned anything tonight, have you?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asjTYMUwYTc Like Amanda, Jeff is being retested. And, like Amanda, Jigsaw cannot change his values. The list goes on as we examine other movies in the Saw franchise. Art (Louis Ferreira, of Stargate Universe ) survives his mausoleum trap. Does he learn anything? Has he changed? Nope. In Saw IV (2007), he becomes the head of another game where he dies. In Saw II (2005), Eric (Donnie Wahlberg, of Blue Bloods ) fails his test but not all is lost. He proves his willingness to survive and live by escaping. This should be it for Eric, shouldn't it? But it’s not. He then becomes bait in the same trap that ends up killing Art. All in all, Amanda ends up being right when she states in Saw III , “Nobody changes.” But what about Kramer, the very one who has instituted this form of rehabilitation? A big NO on that as well. Those of you who have seen the movies, recall with me, if you will, John Kramer’s statement from Saw II where he says he is “unfixable.” And there we have it, folks, right in front of our faces. Kramer’s own words scream at us the radical nihilist’s confession of despair. No one is fixable, so the entire damn system needs to burn. Jigsaw is sick and tired of it all. He is tired of the current world-as-it-is value system. He is sick of people not appreciating their lives because of this system. But people can’t change, not even with his method; therefore, it must all be destroyed. Let’s go back to the original Saw (2004) for a moment. There’s a scene in there where Detective Tapp (Danny Glover, of Lethal Weapon ) says to Kramer he is “sick” but he’s not referring to his cancer. Kramer’s response is telling. He states he is “sick of those who don’t appreciate their life” and he is “sick of those who scoff at the suffering of others.” And then comes the ultimate culmination and confession of Jigsaw: He says he is “sick of it all.” To put that in nihilistic terms, he is sick of the world and the current state of existence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk_PzaM41xc What about Kramer’s cancer? His physical illness? Does it play a part in this? Oh, absolutely. Jigsaw’s destructive nature displayed in his games is intricately tied to his terminal illness. Thus, the only true change Jigsaw institutes in any of his traps is devastation. The games he subjects people to are not capable of changing anyone’s values. Kramer’s aim is much more simplistic: to destroy the world as is. In closing, I want to examine one more phrase from Kramer that highlights his radical nihilism, and it is probably one of the most important phrases in the franchise. In Saw IV , Kramer states, “If the subject survives my method, he or she is instantly rehabilitated.” Yet, as we have seen above, this is far from the truth. As a radical nihilist, Jigsaw’s values remain intact despite evidence to the contrary, and despite the impossibility of those ideals ever becoming a reality in the world as is. This also answers the question as to why, even if people survive, Jigsaw just puts them in another game to die anyway. It is because destruction is the chief end—the obliteration of the world-as-it-is value system. There is much more to unpack when it comes to the philosophy of John Kramer—so much more, in fact, that even passive and radical nihilism fail to cover it. This means while Kramer fits these paradigms, there are also aspects of him that do not. Those points are beyond the scope of these articles. However, seeing much of Kramer through the lens of passive and radical nihilism does shed light on his madness and gives us a background to understand some of the seeming contradictions that are evident throughout the movies. Before I end, I want to sum up a few things. First, radical nihilism embraces the impossibility of change. Second, when we examine passive and radical nihilism, especially in John Kramer, we see the two are intertwined. Nihilists like Kramer rely on their view of the world as it is being the non-ideal of existence. This is the only way they can understand existence. There is a deep conflict between the world-as-it-is view and the world-as-it-ought-to-be view. Jigsaw’s world view is one where he gives into destruction in order to institute change. He has wholeheartedly given himself over to the belief that people are predictable. Thus, he allows them to be human, to keep their current value system and ultimately doom themselves. There is a deep irony existing inside John Kramer. With all of his destructive games, he still relies on the world existing as it is while also being the source of his own dissatisfaction in life. Because Kramer will never fulfill his goal of total destruction, as a nihilist, his own life will have no purpose either. credit: Lionsgate Entertainment And there you have it, my friends. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little discourse into the Saw franchise, and I plan on bringing you more thought-provoking pieces in the future. Until then, stay tuned for more fantastic upcoming B-movie reviews in my current series What the Hell Did I Just Watch . Catch y’all on the flip flop. Happy Halloween, my friends. Now go watch some Saw movies! Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Do you want to know who brings you all the content? We do! contributors Nicole Brice Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Digital Content Editor, Head Writer, Marketing Director, Brand Manager, Producer/Host Reviews on the Reel , Producer/Host Unscripted Verbiage, Video Editor the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com www.Amazon.com/author/nicole_dewey_brice Nicole Brice is a Veteran, former college radio DJ, published author, owner of MAM, and she’s a total music snob. She has been since age 7, when she became obsessed with music after hearing Depeche Mode for the first time. Located in Baton Rouge, La., she likes the obscure things that people haven’t heard, as well as the things that are LOUD. She likes to go against the grain and the norm, challenging mainstream ideals and beliefs. With a background in Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Management, she hopes to bring her vision of a free artistic space to life with MAM. Never being one to follow, she likes to research things on her own. With an extreme love for the aesthetic of music & art merged, she is obsessed with fashion – but not just any fashion; it must reflect her punk rock/grunge style and be different from the norm. Bright colors, bright patterns, and a mixture of many textures are what draw her in. Nicole’s also a hardcore wrestling fan and a former Divas Champion. Don’t believe it? She has the belt to prove it, and the smacketh is often laid down on those who make her angry with no mercy. She wants to draw attention to and put focus on those who create in hopes of banding together to spread a message of love and unity in a world so divided by hate. bud gambrell Lead Photographer - North Alabama Region / Music Writer Off the Charts the_budgambrell@mixedaltmag.com www.bgambrellphotography.com Bud Gambrell is a published author and music photographer located in Hazel Green, Alabama, and we are beyond excited to have him on our team. Bud first discovered his love for live music in 1976 when he was captivated by the atmosphere at a KISS concert. Since then, he has attended many other shows featuring both local and national acts and has been producing content for concert reviews via Sound Check Entertainment, UnRated Magazine, Sonic Perspectives, and AL.com. Bud’s passion for photography began at a young age when he started out as an amateur shutterbug. Known for his stunning crispy images in and around North Alabama, Bud continues to photograph many notable acts and recently published his first book about the much-loved Side Tracks Music Hall, which was located in Huntsville, Alabama. The book is currently available on Amazon.com. tim jackson Entertainment Writer www.clippings.me/timwjackson Tim is a seasoned journalist and author with a penchant for all things dark, macabre, and somewhat sinister. But we promise he doesn't bite. He's a freelance communicator who likes to tell all kinds of stories with words, photos, and video, and he has extensive experience working in traditional media (newspapers, magazines, and book publishing). With an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College and a B.A in Communication from the University of Alabama, he loves storytelling by any method. A native of Russellville, Alabama, Tim currently lives in Tuscumbia with his wife, Taryn, who has an affinity for tarot cards, and their dog, Maple, who has an affinity for chewing remote controls. Don't let his clean looks fool you, though; he fits right in with our cool-kid shenanigans. jeff crespi Lead Photographer - New Jersey Region www.jeffcrespirocks.com Jeff Crespi is … well … he’s a riot; can you not tell? No way we were gonna pass on having him come play in our sandbox. Jeff is an award-winning professional concert photographer out of New Jersey covering hundreds of shows each year. He’s a former house photographer for the legendary Stone Pony and Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ, and he is one of the house photographers at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville. He’s also the winner of the Asbury Music Award Top Music Photographer five years running. Expect some badassery from this one. gary governale Lead Photographer, Videographer BR & NOLA Regions / Music Writer www.GovernalePhotoVideo.com Gary has been working as a video professional since grunge kicked the door down on rock radio, then he picked up his Nikon just a few years later. A lifelong music enthusiast, Gary enjoys band photography and album art just as much as the music itself. He’s a big fan of any-and-all rock ‘n roll, including classic rock, punk, alternative, and hard rock, but he certainly enjoys some jazz and classical vibes when it’s time to relax. He has been serving as band photographer for Christian Rock group, Empowered, including directing, shooting, and editing one of their music videos. When not following the band around or toiling away at his regular video job, Gary spends his time lamenting the loss of the local record store-shopping experience. He is located in Baton Rouge, LA. ezekiel "zeke" kincaid Entertainment Writer https://www.amazon.com/Ezekiel-Kincaid/ He looks scary, but we promise he’s not. He does write scary stuff though, and we can vouch for his filthy, incredible talent. Zeke is known by his fans as “The Paranormal Pastor” or “The Pastor of Horror” because, well, he’s a fantastic horror author with over 20 years in ministry. He’s also a paranormal investigator with some pretty incredible experiences, and because of all of that, he brings a unique and original touch to the dark fiction genre. His writings run the gamut of human existence, and he likes to write in various styles and voices to allow his tales the narration and visceral characters needed to make the words jump off the page. And jump, they do. Right in your face. The only other language he’s fluent in is sarcasm, which explains why he’s such a perfect fit with us. With three theological degrees, a romantic side, and an affinity for martial arts, he’ll fight anyone who says they don’t like Bruce Campbell. seth thomas Co-host Unscripted Verbiage http://therageonline.com/ https://www.listentotheplanet.com/loud-hour Seth Thomas is the host of the Louisiana LOUD Hour on Planet Radio 106.7, a popular Rock station based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Known for his deep passion for local music and energetic on-air presence, Seth curates a high-octane mix of Rock, Metal, Punk, and Independent, and Alternative music, delivering a raw and authentic listening experience. He has become a prominent voice in the local rock scene, engaging with fans through interactive segments and supporting local bands by giving them airplay and exposure. Seth’s dedication to the genre and his connection with the community have made the Louisiana LOUD Hour a must-listen for rock enthusiasts in the area. In addition to the LOUD Hour, Seth recently launched his own indie station called The Rage. The Rage is available in the Apple App store as well as on Google Play, so go download your new rock animal today! kimberly bryant Music, Comedy, and Entertainment Writer http://www.youtube.com/@popculturegreenroom Kimberly is an experienced entertainment writer and media personality, known for her insightful take on pop culture and the entertainment industry. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast and Journalism from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she began her career as a sports reporter for The Southeastern Channel. After relocating to San Diego, CA, for 12 years, Kimberly delved deeper into the entertainment world, following in her family's footsteps in film, television, and theater. As the co-host of The Pop Culture Green Room podcast and YouTube channel, she covers the latest in celebrity news, reality TV, and current events. Her sharp commentary and engaging style have also landed her appearances on TMZ , where she shares her expertise with a national audience. When she's not hosting or writing, Kimberly enjoys exploring new facets of the entertainment industry, connecting with her audience through various media platforms, diving into new trends, working out, staying healthy, and spending time with her dog Lucy. corey nichols Creative & Promotions Designer Corey Nichols is a multi-talented artist and business owner based in a small Louisiana town. His journey began with simply a pencil and a love for art and drawing. In 2016, Corey began his career in the tattoo industry, using his experience in drawing and illustration to develop a natural talent for tattooing. Learning from the popular tattoo artist, Micro, Corey honed his skills and acquired the iconic Burning Lotus tattoo shop. Known across Louisiana, Burning Lotus has earned the prestigious Best of 225 award for "Best Tattoo Shop" four years running, solidifying its reputation in the tattoo game. Motivated by a desire to expand his creative horizons, Corey recently embarked on a new journey—Painterly Portraits. What began as a few commissioned pieces for charity auctions quickly evolved into a potential business. Through Painterly Portraits, Corey channels his immense love for art, creating each portrait with deep passion and precision. His goal is to inspire others by sharing his work with the world and bringing his vision to life. View More

While Auto-Tune may have a permanent place in the industry, it is the authentic voices that endure and stand the test of time. < Back Auto-Tune: The Great Debate on Perfection’s Place in Music Mo Thornton Mar 18, 2024 Share While Auto-Tune may have a permanent place in the industry, it is the authentic voices that endure and stand the test of time. Imagine for a moment a world without Tracy Chapman’s voice coming through your car speakers, those rough, urgent notes warning us, “We better leave tonight or live and die this way”. If Auto-Tune had been around in 1988 and used to pitch correct Chapman’s outlier contralto voice, the artist in her authenticity might never have been recorded. Chapman recently made history as the first Black woman to win a Country Music Association award for her smash hit “Fast Car”. She could well have been one of thousands of talented musical artists who never reached an audience beyond their hometown, and I daresay the music world in general, and Luke Combs, in particular, would be the poorer for it. In case you missed the news, Combs’ cover of Chapman’s “Fast Car” was awarded Country Music Association’s 2023 “Single of the Year”. Credit: Getty Images A full decade after Tracy Chapman’s award-winning and now history-making release, Auto-Tune arrived on the scene. The technology was invented in 1997 by geophysicist and engineer Dr. Andy Hildebrand, who applied mathematical algorithms to interpret sonar-generated data to help oil companies locate fuel deposits, an endeavor that made him quite wealthy. A Seismic Shift In 1989 Hildebrand left the lucrative field of seismology and launched his own company, Antares Audio Technology. As the story goes, he asked colleagues what should be invented. Someone jokingly said the world needed a machine to give her the ability to sing in tune. It was a eureka moment for Hildebrand: the same math that he used in oil exploration could be applied to pitch correction. “When voices or instruments are out of tune, the emotional qualities of the performance are lost,” the patent for Auto-Tune stated. That was quite a bold and sweeping assertion, one that has proven divisive in audio entertainment circles ever since. Ed Sheeran, Celine Dion, Bruno Mars, and, yes, even pop icon superstar Taylor Swift, are among the famous artists who refuse to use Auto-tune live. On the other side of the fence, Grammy-winning Rapper T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, and Cher are in favor of using the vocal modification software and other synthesizing techniques. In fact, Cher’s 1998 comeback megahit “Believe” is often cited as the first major commercial use of Auto-Tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZXRV4MezEw “The Cher Effect” has become synonymous with the over-exaggerated application of the software that creates an interesting combo of human and robotic vocals. Clearly this was not an attempt to mask Cher’s real voice but rather was an obvious and ear worm-creating technique that successfully contributed to the singer’s career reboot. Local Musicians Weigh In While the debate continues to rage on and play out on the international stage, local musicians also weigh in on the pros and cons of Auto-Tune. Mike Ball, who plays multiple instruments and performs with The Bubbanauts , a country band out of Huntsville, Alabama, says he uses pitch correction to ensure his voice is in tune before tackling certain songs. Mike Ball (Credit: Karen Ball) “I’m not against the use of the technology, but I am against hypocrisy,” says Ball, president of The Huntsville Traditional Music Association. “Auto-Tune is a tool but, in my opinion, should not be used as a crutch or a cheat-sheet in place of talent. In music, like anything else in life, if one person is too far out of tune, it’s going to create chaos rather than harmony.” Another Huntsville-based musician and songwriter, Ricky j Taylor , who has played rock, bluegrass, and folk music, among other genres, says he doesn’t see the benefit of creating an expectation of perfection when music is an art and expression of the human condition. Ricky j Taylor (Credit: MoonTown Photography) “These are my sentiments only,” Taylor says, “but some of the most expressive music is born from struggles and hard times, and I don’t know why that should be stripped of human qualities—human imperfections.” A physicist as well as a musician, Taylor does see the advantage of Auto-Tune for post-production adjustments in studio recording. “No doubt, Auto-Tune is a time- and money-saving tool,” he says. When used to correct a note here and there or adjust for something like a mic that was repositioned during recording, few refute the technology’s value. Sophie Buck is a multi-instrumentalist who performs solo and with groups that play old time, folk, Celtic, and roots music. A senior at Middle Tennessee State University, Buck is tech-savvy, like many of her generation. She says pitch correction technology is a powerful tool that, when applied, can be constructive or destructive. Sophie Buck (Credit: Valeri Buck) “I think it all comes down to the goal of the individual artist,” Buck says. “If the goal is to capture raw, human authenticity with the [inherent] imperfections, Auto-Tune might strip the music of that essence. However, if the goal is to create a highly polished or computer-generated project, the software is an asset.” “Sure, Auto-Tune has its place,” Taylor agrees. “But it can be a slippery slope when it becomes so widely accepted that live performers rely on it.” Taken to the extreme, if the software enables anyone to sing perfectly in tune, why not have that singer be a hot Urban Cowboy or Barbie Doll 10 in looks? And who decides what is “hot” and who is a “10”? And what exactly constitutes “perfect”? Is perfection hitting a note and holding it, or is it finding a thread of emotion that runs through the veins of everyone listening to a vocal cry of need, loss, love, hope, or grief that elevates it beyond the individual to the universal? Imperfectly Perfect Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” and Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” testify to the commercial appeal of imperfectly perfect voices. If that reference feels too lost in the mists of history for today’s music scene, just look at one of many viral video clips from the 2024 GRAMMY Awards ceremony of Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs performing together. Two incredible talents who differ in age, music genres, race, and orientation seem to have found something that defies differences and creates connection. That something is the fact that “Fast Car” is a timeless song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqb6xbeuCo Though Auto-Tune may have a permanent place in the music industry, it is a comfort to know authentic voices, like Chapman’s, have an enduring place in the human expression that is 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? 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Some Spooky Season Picks < Back Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for October Nick Cline Oct 4, 2024 Share Some Spooky Season Picks It’s that time again! This is a bit late because I have been slammed by life lately. I am back and ready to bring your newest slew of music for your listening pleasures. We will dive into various picks that hit you from every angle. All your sonic pleasures will be handled by this month's picks, ranging from local bands across the country to more recognized bands from across rock history. Let's get into October's picks of the month! 1 Honey Bucket by The Melvins Click to listen Deets about the track : First up on the chopping block are Grunge precursors and legends, The Melvins . The track we will be talking about today is ' Honey Bucket .' This dropped-tuning grunge masterpiece has the tone Buzz Osborne (frontman of The Melvins) described as a “car wreck.” Honey Bucket offers high-octane energy in a condensed 3-minute package. All around, this track will wake you up, prepare you for your day, and, let's be honest, that intro will be stuck in your head for the remainder of the week. 2 Semblance of Me by Seether Click to listen Deets about the track : Next up is a track that was recently released on Seether 's latest album, The Surface Seems So Far . The track, ‘ Semblance of Me ,’ makes a new but familiar sound for Seether. It hits you right in the ear as soon as the music starts. The heavily distorted and haunting slowness of the riffs and the angst-driven lyrics and melodies make you dig straight into the sound. As the track progresses, the song's energy pushes increasingly into darkness until it cracks, and the screaming of pain hits with the bridge/breakdown. This track would make an excellent addition for anyone looking for new music filled with relatable energy, new music in general, and just about anything else. 3 Angels Turn Away by Sinz of Eden Click to listen Deets about the track : This next track is from a band that I found while on tour for my band, Phantum Sun . We traveled to Charleston, WV, and played with a band called Sinz of Eden . They are a new take on hard rock and metal but sound deeply familiar. Their track, ‘ Angels Turn Away ,’ is a hard-hitting reminder of a fuse of metalcore and 80s rock. It's an off-the-wall fusion of music, but it has the sensibilities of Avenged Sevenfold style riffs, metalcore drums, melodies of 80s vocalists, and the rounding off powerful bass lines that compliment everything. They are a deep-cut band from WV and surely deserve some spotlight. They have a killer presence live, and their tracks bring that same energy to your playlists at home. 4 This Guilt by Inner Anguish Click to listen Deets about the track : We have two more picks for this entry, and for this one, I would like to recommend a killer local band from Louisiana. Inner Anguish is a complete masterclass on high energy, classic metal production, riffs, melodies, screams, and a rhythm section that beats you to a pulp live and at home. Across the board, their track, ‘ This Guilt ,’ offers a hybrid mix of metalcore and a sense of nu-metal undertones. There is tension between nu-metal mixed with vibes and music from Avenged Sevenfold 's album, Walking the Fallen . Overall, Inner Anguish and their track should be checked out live and through your listening pleasures. 5 Comfortably Numb (cover) by The Main Squeeze Click to listen Deets about the track : This next one is a massive curveball to the line-up of picks I have for you, but this track is from a criminally underrated national band called The Main Squeeze . They have a cover project called the Squeeze House . They cover many tunes they convert into their style and jam over in ballad formats. The cover I am recommending today is their cover of Pink Floyd 's classic, ' Comfortably Numb .' This cover takes hold of itself as an impressive showing of love for the original and their talent as a group. The song is straightforward throughout the whole song, but the music and the band shine when the iconic solo from David Gilmour starts. It raises in energy until the breaking moment of the solo starts, then that starts a five or six-minute jam of the original solo, as well as added parts that heavily compliment the original. If you are a fan of Pink Floyd, then you will love this take on their classic track. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The combination of riffs, vocals, lyrics, and rhythm creates a storm of energy that resonates throughout. < Back Music Reviews by Nick: Playing with Fire by Caustic Waves Nick Cline Jul 4, 2025 Share The combination of riffs, vocals, lyrics, and rhythm creates a storm of energy that resonates throughout. Caustic Waves is back with an exciting new track that promises to captivate your eardrums with a wave of dissonance, distortion, and raw emotion. Launched in 2022 by the sonic mastermind Neil Thomas , this Glasgow-based one-man band draws inspiration from the diverse rock landscapes of the 90s and early 2000s. With this unique blend of musical tastes, Caustic Waves offers something for everyone looking for a mix of Deftones , Incubus , and other legendary grunge artists. The latest single, ' Playing With Fire ,' continues to build upon this rich soundscape. Released July 4, 2025 From the very beginning, ‘ Playing With Fire ’ grabs your attention with an explosion of distorted guitars . Within seconds, the song erupts as the full instrumentation and vocals kick in. The combination of riffs, vocals, lyrics, and rhythm creates a storm of energy that resonates throughout the entire track. Maintaining listener engagement has become a challenge in today’s music industry, but Caustic Waves achieves this effortlessly. The guitar tones and riffs are unmistakably hook-oriented, offering a subtle nod to the great metalcore projects of the early 2000s while also incorporating high-energy alternative influences from the 90s. There are very few complaints regarding the bass and guitar performance, which showcases a steady sense of melody and electrifying energy, creating a powerful musical storm. Overall, the single features impressive guitar and bass work, with excellent use of tone, riffs, and melody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkW9aeeWqmw The official lyric video for 'Playing With Fire' by Caustic Waves The song's rhythm provides a solid foundation that interacts like a living, breathing entity. This dynamic is one of my favorite aspects of the track. Although the high energy can sometimes overshadow this intricate interplay, paying attention reveals an effortless flow from beginning to end, capturing the crackle of flames to the first note, all the way through to the final crash of the cymbals. The vocals and lyrics convey a deep sense of emotion and a hopeful rage. The melodies tie the energy together, reflecting an intertwining of rage and a sense of hopeful embrace. This complex idea is executed with both intention and ease, allowing for a smooth dichotomy alongside the instrumentation. All these elements combine to create a sonic palette that will appeal to a wide audience. If you're a fan of 90s and early 2000s alternative and hard rock, you've found a new artist and track to add to your playlist. Caustic Waves delivers another standout single that connects seamlessly with their previous work. ' Playing With Fire ' is out now on all streaming platforms, so go enjoy! For more information about Caustic Waves: CAUSTIC WAVES | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Shocks to Sleeping Beauties is a daring mix of electric energy and lyrical depth. < Back Glitter Litter Awakens Listeners with a Bold New Sonic Journey Nick Cline Jun 24, 2024 Share Shocks to Sleeping Beauties is a daring mix of electric energy and lyrical depth. Glitter Litter , a band that stands out with its distinctive fusion of glam rock and punk, immediately seized my attention with its new album, Shocks to Sleeping Beauties released on June 14, 2024. The album is a daring mix of electric energy and lyrical depth. The first listen was a nostalgic journey, evoking memorable tunes from the ‘90s and early 2000s TV and movie soundtracks. With its unique melodies and lyrics, each song left an indelible mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItfwwV8Mj2U Upon listening to the album, I discerned clear influences from iconic bands such as the New York Dolls , Blondie , and The Ramones , and subtle nods to a diverse range of bubblegum pop-rock bands from the 90s and early 2000s. These influences are skillfully woven together, creating a delightful blend of nostalgia and contemporary pop-rock. My favorite track from the latest album is ‘ I don't want to write songs about things I don't want to do. ’ This track has a perfect sense of melody that caught my ear when paying attention to the mix, the melody, and everything else intertwined. Like I said before, the songs were heavily influenced by '90s and early 2000s sitcoms, comedies, etc. This is, by far, the strongest suit when looking into the tracks. The way they are written is like a media time machine of nostalgia and killer tunes. It's straightforward punk rock with a bubblegum melody and glam rock vibe. These tracks would make a welcome addition to just about anybody's playlist, especially people who love glam rock and bubblegum pop-rock/punk. The album's mix is, for the most part, a well-crafted piece of work. The tones displayed exhibit a clear quality in the recording process. However, I couldn't help but notice the occasional underutilization of promising riffs, which, in my view, detracts from the overall creative process that is evident in all the tracks. Credit: Artist website I was pleased with everything I heard when I listened to the tracks, but I noticed the use of riffs, melodies, and other parts of the song that were only taken advantage of in pieces. I feel this took away some of the superb musicianship and production of the music. In my opinion, Glitter Litter should explore their more underrepresented talents that shine in only pieces of songs. They could push into a different territory of tonal quality when exploring more sounds. Nonetheless, Shocks to Sleeping Beauties was a pleasure to listen to. This album made me want to look more into their music to see what else I could find, thanks to the melody and production. I am more than eager to see what Glitter Litter has in store for the future of its music and brand. Put this band on your list of bands to check out NOW! To experience all things Glitter Litter, just hit one of the links below: Website : Glitter Litter - bubblegum glam/punk Linktree : Shocks to sleeping beauties by Glitter Litter ( songwhip.com ) Spotify: Shocks to sleeping beauties - EP by Glitter Litter | Spotify Apple Music : ‎Shocks To Sleeping Beauties - EP - Album by Glitter Litter - Apple Music Do you have a tune you think Nick would like? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Lafayette’s progressive metal and metalcore band delivers heavy sounds with spicy lyrics < Back Endure the Affliction: Music to Empower Mind, Body, and Soul Je'an-Paul Keller Jul 31, 2023 Share Lafayette’s progressive metal and metalcore band delivers heavy sounds with spicy lyrics Coming up August 19, 2023, Louisiana’s own metal core/progressive metal band Endure the Affliction are set to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in Lafayette, Louisiana. They are the second in our installment of interviews with all the acts on the bill. These guys are the new face of progressive metal/metalcore in the area and if you’re not familiar with them yet, you soon will be. Endure the Affliction is a well-orchestrated mixture of progressive metal and metalcore that embodies melodic metal and embraces their Louisiana roots. This five-piece group of talented musicians formed the band in 2018 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and currently consists of Deion Lanthier on guitar and vocals, Ryan Tyler on lead vocals, Brett Dronet on guitar, Joshua Domingue on bass, and Kyle Roberts on drums. credit: Chad Besse A sound reminiscent of true, deep southern darkness metalcore, Endure the Affliction belts out a powerful and passionate message that will shake your soul to its very core. They have been through different member line-ups and many personal hardships through the years, but those experiences taught them how to endure all of the afflictions the world throws at them. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, their lyrics are about overcoming hardships in life such as suicide, racism, and drug addiction, just to name a few. Their music video for the song "Identity" demonstrates the battles inside we all struggle with on a daily basis. The powerful riffs of the dueling guitars and soaring vocals are so intense, they’ll have you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Their listeners have told them they are a gateway into the wonderful world of metalcore, and I, for one, could not agree more. Their EPs “Origins” and “Evolve” are full of so much energy, they’ll leave you feeling motivated to conquer all roadblocks that you face. Exactly the type of music one wants to hear on any given day. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with vocalist and guitarist Deion Lanthier, where he told me some great stories about the band’s history and took the time to explain the band’s overall message, which is focused on healing and feeling uplifted. These albums will empower your mind, body, and soul for the greater good. Check out our conversation below, then go listen to their music. You won’t regret it! Deion Lanthier - Photo credit Chad Besse MaM : Who or what has inspired your sound? Deion : Well, it’s kind of hard to say. We’ve been through a few original members. Originally, the idea was to be like a cross between hard rock and metalcore, but it ended up not being that because we all have different influences. Originally, with the original singer being … an older guy, he was more influenced by the classical heavy metal, where the rest of us are more influenced by metalcore-type of stuff—maybe a little bit of Djent—but we really don’t try to sound like anybody too much. We just kind of do our thing. Whatever we write, if we like it, then we just roll with it. Everything’s always middle, of course, but we just gotta roll with it. We all have a bunch of different influences. MaM : Primarily what was your main influence? Deion : The biggest influence for me, personally, … would probably be All That Remains, because that was the first metalcore band I heard. They definitely had a lasting impact on me and a big influence on the way that I write music. MaM : How did you form? And how did you meet the other members of the band? Deion : Well, it was me and the original drummer that started the band together, but it was weird. I didn't know the guy but I saw him on Facebook, and I mistook him for someone that I went to school with. I was like, ‘Hey, man! I didn't know you played drums,’ and I guess he got confused too, because he was talking to me like he knew me. So, we didn't find out until a few messages later [that] we don't actually know each other. Then I said, ‘Hey, you want to start a band together?’ I was looking for a second project at the time. I was actually in one project at that time that wasn't really making too much progress. So, that's how we got started. credit: Chad Besse MaM : I take it everybody catches on pretty quickly and everybody gets into the groove? Deion : Oh, yeah, absolutely. We all have really good chemistry, and everybody is very, like I said, very talented. Everybody brings their own unique influence, and everybody's great songwriters. That's the most important part, right? MaM : So you all contribute to it. It's kind of like the band Queen, where everybody just puts in their own influences and brings everything to the table, huh? Deion : Oh, yeah, absolutely. Generally the process would be for me or the other guitarist, but we come up with the melodies on guitar first, and then the drummer puts the drums to it. Then, bass and vocals [have to] get written next and need to get written simultaneously. But, it's very guitar driven, usually. Once we have the bass line down, everybody just kind of makes suggestions, and we go from there. So, it's definitely all-five-members-in type of thing. MaM : Most definitely! What influences you to make music? Deion : OH, MAN! Just the love of it! But, aside from the generic answer? (laughs) I've been through a lot of things in life at an early age and music was really what helped me get through it all. Aside from the normal teenage angst, you know, I’ve been through some pretty dark stuff that I feel like if I wouldn't have had music, I wouldn't have been able to deal with it properly, maybe? Music helped me put my emotions into context. I think it helped me learn to manage my emotions and things like that … work my way through things. I want to be able to do that same thing for other people. That is what drives me to keep doing it. credit: Chad Besse MaM : Oh yeah, definitely. I noticed overcoming hardships is the driving force behind your music and in your message. What hardships do you think the listeners overall relate to the most? Deion: We've been told any time we talk about suicide, that's a pretty heavy topic for people, as well as the drug addiction songs that they really connect with—even the more generic songs, like one of our older ones called “Rise.” It's just about rising above a hard situation. Everybody really connected with that one. Even though it's a very broad message, they seem to like it a lot, and that’s something they say they don't get from metal a whole lot. So they're very surprised by it. They all kind of latch onto it. We take pride in that, and that's why we stick to it--even with the vocal exchange. The lyrics may be a little different, but the message is still the same. People seem to really like that positive message. Even though we talk about the darker side of things, we always try to lyrically make it to where you can come out of this bad situation, and you can get through it. MaM : Can you tell me more about the lyrics for “Identity”? Deion : Well it's both general and specific, because it's basically my life. I was a little selfish when I wrote it, but it's relatable because it's true. It's a little bit of racial-identity type of stuff but at the same time suicide attempts and drug addiction. I've been through all of that stuff. But, with the racial thing, I'm mixed, so I've had to deal with stupid stuff from both sides. I had an identity crisis growing up, and that's why it's called, “Identity.” It took me a long time to work that out … realizing that I didn't need to be that way for anyone else in particular. I needed to be who I wanted to be, regardless of what anybody else thought. Also political leanings and stuff like that. You can't let other people influence the type of person that you should be. You have to decide that for yourself. So that's pretty much what that song is about. It's a little all over the place but cohesive at the same time. I try to fit a little bit of everything in there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjetVWu0gto MaM : I totally identify with that one the most. Can I get a little background info on your band name? Deion : Endure the Affliction refers to the human condition—existence itself and the fact that you have no choice but to just endure it. You work your way through problems. You go through life. You figure it out, and that's just it. It's a simple message. It's just a fancy word. Fancy words to relay a simple message. MaM : Do you use any specific pedals to achieve y'all’s sound? Deion : Yeah, I use a Line 6 Helix. I have an EVH over an orange cab, but I plug my Line 6 Helix into that. Most people just use the Line 6 Helix by itself, but I don't do that. The other guitarist has a smaller version of that called the Line 6 POD GO. He uses that for all of his pedal stuff. We're the only two. The bassist uses a straight clean bass tone. He doesn't do any crazy stuff. MaM : You have 99 monthly followers on Spotify and it's growing. Do you think they relate to the overcoming hardships in the lyrics? Do you think that's what draws them in? Deion : I believe so. We talk to our fans, you know. We're not the rock-star diva type. We don't have a huge fan base, but when they come, they come. They show up, and we talk to them. They all say that that's the main thing they like about the music: The lyrics are relatable. They love that we're not black metal. Basically, we’re out there singing about stuff they can't relate to. I think, also, the draw is because we're so melodic for a metal band. A lot of our fans are people that don't listen to metal, believe it or not. We're kind of a gateway band locally. MaM : Any future plans and aspirations for the band? Deion : YES! We would like to tour. We plan on trying to do a little miniature tour at some point, maybe one or two weeks. Nothing fancy, but definitely that. We hope to release our third EP by October. We [have] a couple more songs to get written and recorded, then we'll be good to go. Nothing too big, besides RAD Fest, obviously. For more on Endure the Affliction, you can check them out at any of the below-listed links. For more on RAD Fest, click here . Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enduretheaffliction.la/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enduretheaffliction.la/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EndureTheAffliction Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YkC97oMGPhF8ivqYFXHHo Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/endure-the-affliction/1471728402 Bandcamp: https://enduretheaffliction.bandcamp.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

Truly a Time to Let Your Soul Fly Free < Back Metal: The Killer of Trends Nicole Brice Nov 10, 2022 Share Truly a Time to Let Your Soul Fly Free To say that Metal , especially Southern Metal, had a HUGE impact on my life would truly be an understatement. To be honest, I cannot recall a single time when Metal was not a staple in constant rotation within my music collection. The one band, though, that I can attribute to me truly getting into super heavy music, though, would have to be Pantera , and I had the opportunity to not only see them once in my life, but twice . Those memories will never be forgotten, and those ticket stubs will forever be treasured heirlooms as will my 1996 concert tee from the tour for The Great Southern Trendkill . The ticket stubs from when I saw Pantera LIVE Tour shirt from July 11, 1996 Pantera always had that in-your-face / want to punch something sound. I can recall hearing ' Becoming ' for the first time in my brother's burgundy 1984 Honda Accord on his Alpine stereo at full blast while riding home from school one afternoon. The aggressive guitar that starts the track gives an instant punch to the cojones and what a musical journey that song is. It never lets up. Aggressive all the way through. Dimebag truly was a pioneer of his time and is so missed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLP0xP2M4S8 'Becoming' by Pantera Shows were a way of life growing up and every show that came to town was a "must see". In 1996, my brother and his friends heard that Pantera was coming to town, and so, I instantly HAD to go, right? Add in the fact that they were to play with White Zombie , and duh, no brainer! We were there! We ended up scoring balcony seats, fail , but at least we were getting to go to the concert, so there's that. On May 7, 1996 , The Great Southern Trendkill was released, and the cover was so sick that I knew before I even pressed play that I was in for an incredible experience. To this day, ' Floods ' is one of my favorite Pantera songs, hands down, because of Dimebag's amazing guitar solo , and I like to listen to that track on rainy days in my car at full volume. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5pr9lDaEyw 'Floods' by Pantera Considered one of Pantera's most aggressive albums, The Great Southern Trendkill features some of the fastest tempos and down-tuned guitars in their entire anthology, and even though it was to be one of the last Pantera offerings for a long while after, it serves as a reminder of days past when Metal ruled, and life was simpler. The 1996 show with Pantera and White Zombie was killer, no lie, and was one of the BEST shows I have attended in my LIFE . White Zombie was incredible, Pantera was incredible, Eye Hate God ...not so much, but the entire show was definitely one to remember. Back then, it was my first time seeing Eye Hate God , and their set was lacking something. I can honestly say that after all these years, Eye Hate God has gotten so much better, and I really enjoy their live shows. They have become icons, in their own right. Many years later, on a whim, I bought tickets to see Pantera again, but this time they were playing with Soufly . Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I am a HUGE Max Cavalera fan, HUGE ! I, literally, cannot go a day without listening to at least one Sepultura or Soulfly song. Max's voice gets me so pumped up! Just a few of my fave Sepultura songs are ' Refuse/Resist ', ' Roots Bloody Roots ', and ' Ratamahatta '. I even religiously wore my brothers Soulfly t-shirt in high school, often pissing him off when he would go looking for it and couldn't find it. It was almost always in my room in my dresser, ha! Oopsie! No clue how it got there. ::grins:: I'm wearing the infamous Soulfly t-shirt here, but it's hidden behind this stuffed pig. No clue why I was holding a stuffed pig. Anyway, so ended up getting to that second Pantera show late and arrived in the middle of Soulfly's set, bummer, but at least I got to go, and Pantera did not disappoint, once again. Sadly, I did not get a t-shirt from that show, but I have the memories of who I went with and the experience. Those things can never be replaced. Even though, Pantera is no longer around with the OG's, the memories of seeing their brilliance on stage will forever live in my mind, and maybe if I'm lucky, I'll stumble upon a YouTube video in the future of someone who recorded the shows I attended. Even though we didn't have camera phones back then, some people did sneak video cameras into those shows, and I'm sure someone out there has footage. They just have to. Till next time, listen to good music, reflect on the memories, and let us teach the future generations what classifies as truly GOOD music. Love and Light -Nicole- Me in high school wearing my Pantera tour shirt in 10th grade Geometry class 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

Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for October 2024 < Back Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for your Playlist October Nicole Brice Oct 1, 2024 Share Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for October 2024 It’s my FAVORITE month in the entire world! Woo Hoo! I struggled to decide on these, but I think you’ll enjoy them all. … and if you don’t … I don’t care. My column. My rules. I’m winking at all of you as I type that, too. 1. AFI – Halloween This 1999 Misfit’s cover by AFI is more enjoyable than the original, in my opinion. Something about AFI’s persona during this period does it for me, too. I know bands must evolve, but this period between Black Sails and Art of Drowning is my fave. Turn this one up loud and enjoy! 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1v7KmK5xpM 2. Ministry – Everyday Is Halloween In 1984 after Ministry left Arista , they recorded a couple of singles for Wax Trax! , and this was one of those singles. For those who know of Ministry with its more brutal sound , this track will surprise you. More in vain with bands like Depeche Mode , this track was released as the ultimate goth anthem, and when I first discovered it, I would play it nonstop in the control room at 90.9 KSLU while we were working on promos because I loved it so much. You’ll be bopping along in no time once you put this one on your list. Trust me. 1984 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPI9b9N6CQ 3. Def Leppard- Photograph Even though I was only two years old when this song was released, my earliest memories of hearing it were when the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair would come to town. I can remember this song being played on the sound systems with various rides that were going around. When I finally saw the video on VH1 years later, I became even more intrigued with the band. Forever one of my faves. 1983 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4dHr8evt6k 4. How to Destroy Angels - BBB This song is from the first self-titled EP released under the How to Destroy Angels name, featuring Trent Reznor and his wife, Mariqueen . It is so infectious that you’ll be zoned in within minutes while nodding your head. 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y27mjl7iI1I 5. Candlebox – Far Behind This song instantly transports me back to 6th grade in the fall. There is so much love for this song in my heart. If you’ve never heard it, turn it up! 1993 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTqyUz_jSIo Hey, if you don't like these, cool. If you've never heard them, check them out! Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

It's all green to me! < Back Way Back When: March Playlist Picks 2025 Nicole Brice Mar 3, 2025 Share It's all green to me! March automatically makes me think of the color green—green for St. Patrick’s Day, green for positivity in the spring, just green. Let’s see if I can keep a clever theme for these song suggestions. 1. Green Day - 2000 Light Years Away Green Day certainly has come a long way from their earlier music, but to me, their earlier music is the best because it’s less polished and more authentic. This is one of those tunes that always transports me back to the early '90s. 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhea380bYp0 2. Hum - Green to Me Hum is one of those hidden 90s gems when it comes to bands. They toured with prominent bands back in the day, which is how I discovered them. To say this band and song are underrated would be an understatement. 1998 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4VY15Q2_NU 3. Gorillaz - O Green World Gorillaz burst onto the music scene in 1998 via Damon Albarn of Blur fame and Jamie Hewlett . A virtual band, Gorillaz is best known for its cartoon videos with characters. ‘ O Green World ’ is one of those album tracks that is a little more obscure but so fantastic because of its intricate sounds. Check it out! 2005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f01sIr-y6PY 4. Incubus - A Certain Shade of Green Incubus ’ first album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E. , sounds nothing like their albums that came after. ‘ A Certain Shade of Green ’ is one of those high-energy Incubus songs that just reels you in. 1997 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCml8Th66mM 5. Master P - Pass Me Da Green Just a fun song. “Pass me da green, I need some weed with my Hennessy.” 1997 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_yBoAuKTcU Hey, if you don't like these, cool. If you've never heard them, check them out! Love and light, Nicole www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. < Back Film Review: Iron Lung Nick Cline Mar 12, 2026 Share Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. 2026 is looking to be a stellar year for horror fans. We are only three months in, and the realm of mainstream and indie horror is making a big name for itself. With that being said, the film Iron Lung has become a favorite so far this year. Iron Lung is a passion project from multifaceted YouTube personality Mark Fischbauch. He is better known by his YouTube handle, Markiplier . This was a film without any mainstream production company, distribution, or anything of the sort. It was self-funded, self-written, self-directed, and self-advised. It was a project fueled by passion, love for the work, and the artistic endeavor to push the story forward. Iron Lung 2026 The film is based on the 2022 game of the same name. The game explores a desolate moon where a prisoner, confined to a submarine, navigates a sea of blood as a “prison sentence”. The world and lore of the game came into pocket-sized fragments that would unearth the situation. The film takes the bare bones lore and elevates it into a 127-minute film. I describe Iron Lung as a Cosmic Horror project with a deep sense of dialogue, existential angst, and passion for the unfolding unknown. From start to finish, this is a film that brings the audience right into the situation. It starts with a recounting of the end of days. All life has been wiped out of existence by something called the silent rapture. The only things left are the remnants of mankind and the memories of times past. This bombshell of a monologue transitions to an opening shot of our main character, Simon . He is a prisoner locked away in a submarine that is being used to explore the sea of blood on an unknown moon. He is forced into a situation where he must explore the blood ocean in the hope of being set free from his prison sentence. This is the beginning of a continuous story, driven by a high-stakes series of events. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8E8Ryx49so Iron Lung Official Trailer As the film progresses, the intentions, ideals, horrors, and everything in between come to life. Over time, the stakes of the situation are felt in a slow but high-stakes chain of events. It starts off with Simon finding the bones of a giant alien-like creature, “something” bashing into his submarine, and the eventual dance of delusion and oxygen loss. The next stages of this review will be dancing the line between spoilers and non-spoilers. I want to offer a breakdown of the project's scope, ripping the magic out of its reveals before you even get to see it. I will try my best because this is a movie that deserves to be watched, not read. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaEtA56pd_w Iron Lung Final Trailer The story progresses till the point of “no return”. The conflict and climax merge into one center of action. It's an unusual way for a film to find its footing, but, overall, it is executed well. Simon finds himself in a pit of self-realization, existential angst, and anxiety of finding clarity and resolution in the situation. A creature stalks Simon as he slowly “loses” his mind. What is real? What is part of the radiated frenzy of reality? These are the two questions that haunt the narrative from the midpoint of the film until the rolling of the credits. This locking point in the film kickstarts some of the best visuals and creature design I've seen in a long time. It is baffling that this was a film made for only 3 million dollars, given its size and scope. I could go on and on about the direction this film takes, but that would reveal too much. This film deserves support and viewing. It is a passion project that would get any cosmic horror fan excited. The monsters, lore, existential dread, twists, twists of reality, visuals, sound design, and so much more make this a good watch for anyone who's a fan of cosmic horror, Markiplier , or story-driven horror. The only downside I could find is the slow-paced start, but that is something that usually comes with the film's style. Other than that, I had very few complaints as a viewer. It is a unique watch that sucks you into the world if you give it the chance. I couldn't recommend Iron Lung more. Do yourself a favor and give this a watch! Overall rating: 8.5/10 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

A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage < Back Comedian Junior Cook: Uncensored, Unapologetic, and Gay, Gay, Gay Keeley Brooks Jun 8, 2023 Share A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage If there's anything I love more than watching movies and series, it's having a good laugh at some quality stand-up comedy. And right now, more than ever, this entire world is in need of good, hearty laughs from quality comedians who are proud to be authentic. There's nothing better than coming home after a long day and stumbling across some good standup by accident, and that's how I found unapologetic Alabama-based comedian Junior Cook. A loud and proud gay comedian tearin' it up across the South, Cook is full of life and personality with tons of material, but perhaps the best thing about him is the fact he has no shame when it comes to being himself, and that, my friends, is beyond refreshing in a world of likeness and conformity. He's kind and humble, and he isn't afraid to tackle sensitive subjects with charm and ease, which he embodies effortlessly. He's mindful of presenting jokes wrapped in such sweet southern swagger, you can't help but feel like you're sitting on your porch hanging out with Junior over a tall glass of sweet tea. I reached out to Junior to have a chat, and I'm glad I did. He is one funny dude doing exactly what he's meant to be doing, and if he keeps plugging away like he is, he's got one bright future ahead of him. In fact, when I did reach out to him, he had just been selected as the chosen performer for Season 13 of Kenan Presents: The Live Performance Showcase at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre in Huntsville, Alabama. The show was hosted by Alton Walker, the creator of The NextIN Line Network, and featured special guest Lamar Pullom, a radio personality known as "The Ant-Man of Comedy" on 105.1 The Block. courtesy of Junior Cook social media I couldn't wait to dig in and learn more about Cook and his life, so check out our conversation below, then be sure to follow him on social media so you can catch him performing live and laugh until your face hurts. MaM : Junior, thank you so much for hanging out with us. It's a pleasure to feature you in our Comedic Relief section. Tell us where you're from and where you're currently located. JC : Thank you for having me! I grew up in a very small town in Alabama called Haleyville, but I currently live in Birmingham, Alabama. MaM : What were you like as a child? Were you the one always entertaining everybody else with laughs? JC : As a child I was cautious, shy, and curious. I knew who I was at a very young age, but I also knew the world was not ready for me. (laughs) MaM : Has comedy always been a part of your life? JC : Comedy has always been a part of my life, yes-especially through TV sitcoms and variety shows. I was always looking for the weird and the funny. MaM : When were you first introduced to comedy? JC : My first introduction to stand-up comedy was watching Whoopi Goldberg's HBO comedy special as a child. I was with my family at the beach. I was burnt from too much sun, so I stayed inside and was just taken aback by her characters and skits. She was amazing ... still is! That is probably the reason why I am so excited to see female comedians. MaM : Whoopi is hysterical. I remember her specials as a child, too. I thought she was the funniest woman I'd ever seen at the time. So daring and bold. When did you know you wanted to be a comedian? JC : I have always enjoyed making people laugh. My mother tried to get me to pursue stand-up comedy right out of high school but, yet again, I knew the world was not ready for me. Also, I saw making money and exploring who I was and meeting others just like me as being more important at the time. One day at work, I had a client tell me that I should try out for one of the comedy clubs' open mic nights. I knew there was more to it than just getting out there and running your mouth, so I looked into the open mic and saw that they offered many writing classes. After I finished the classes and did my first stand-up gig, I was hooked. MaM : What does comedy mean to you/do for you and your life? JC : Comedy means everything to me. Working with words and improv has helped me expand as a person, and comedy also gives me the pleasure of making people happy and lifting their spirits, [even if it is for] just one evening. MaM : Tell us about the first time you were on stage doing standup. What was that like for you? courtesy of Junior Cook JC : The first time I was ever on a stage in front of people probably was the scariest time I've ever felt. It felt like [I was about to] bungee jump off a 10-story building with no safety net. Yet, even with what little laughs I got, I was happy and [it] helped me discover that [standup] was for me. MaM : Ha, I've bungeed before and it's terrifying ... until you actually jump! So, I understand your fear and how it compelled you to move forward. That's really cool. Who are some of your comedic influences? JC : My comedy influences have always been women in comedy. Even today, it's the women who make me laugh [the most]. Watching The Golden Girls with my grandmother on the weekends was the highlight of my week growing up. A lot of the jokes went straight over my head becuase I was so young, but watching my grandmother laugh so hard made me laugh even harder. Sitcoms, The Carol Burnett Show, and female stand-up comedians like Joan Rivers have made a huge impact on my life. MaM : Who was the first comedian you ever saw live? JC : I think the first comedian I ever saw live was Lisa Lampanelli. She was crude, rude, and everything good! She told it like it was but in a really funny way. She will always be in my top ten list of comedians I love. MaM : Who's your current favorite comedian? JC : My current favorite comedian has to be Wanda Sykes, hands down. She works so hard, but she makes it look effortless. I admire that about her. MaM : Dude, huge congratulations on the Live Performance Showcase ! That's so awesome! You must have been elated from the time you got the news clean through after you finished your set. Tell us how all of that came about, then what the experience was like for you. JC : I was chosen to be part of Demi TV's Demi Gods of Comedy. I was so excited that I was going to be filmed and placed on their network. I was chosen by a large group of people that work at Demi TV. The experience has been very positive. Getting noticed in this industry can be hard, and it's so rewarding to know that someone sees you and sees the potential you have. MaM : Who were some of the other performers at the showcase? JC : Some of the other comedians that were featured on this special were Scott Eason and my good friend Kimberly Wilson. I consider her my comedy wife. Ha ha. MaM : Tell us about your comedy style in your own words. JC : My comedy style is a mixture of dark comedy, everyday situations, and things that we all have to deal with. And most importantly, my comedy style is about me: uncensored, unapologetic, and gay, gay, gay, which is something I could not have done when I was younger. [Now, I'm able to] be my authentic self on stage. Living in the South, I do get some uncomfortable mixed feelings from people, but that is just who I am - a southern man who happens to be gay. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_dd8f3cf98eb046d2b3eb1a54b5888122/360p/mp4/file.mp4 MaM : Well, we happen to love your gayness and we're proud to flaunt you! So, what can people expect from a Junior Cook show? JC : People can always expect me to be me unapologetically, physically, and sometimes unexpectedly. MaM : Are you currently touring? Where do you perform? JC : I'm a performer all around the Southeast and at any comedy festival around the country. I'm hoping to get beyond that soon. MaM : What does the future hold for you? JC : I don't think we ever really know what the future holds for us, but I see myself expanding more with comedy wherever it takes me. MaM : If you could share the stage with any comedian, who would it be and why? JC : If I could share the stage with any comedian, it would have to be Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, or any female comedian today. They just make me laugh so hard. I don't think that women really get thir praise for being the best at comedy. MaM : Junior, thanks so much for taking some time and allowing us to get to know you. It's been a pleasure. But before I let you go, since we are an entertainment magazine, inquiring minds want to know what are you currently watching? JC : I am currently watching old sitcoms, believe it or not (laughs). Even though I've seen so many of them so many times, I still find little hidden gems tucked away that I never noticed, and that gives me such joy. And there you have it, folks. Be sure and follow Junior Cook on Facebook and Instagram @JrCookComedy to stay up to date on his latest shows and appearances. This is one hilariously authentic, proud gay man spreading the love one laugh at a time. To learn more about Junior Cook: Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/jrcookcomedy Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/jrcookcomedy/ www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Not a Rock and Roll Loser < Back Born to Perform: Dr. Joe Burns Nicole Brice Mar 9, 2023 Share Not a Rock and Roll Loser Influence … what is it, really? We all have people, places, things, or ideas that influence us in life via various forms, and this next musician I’m going to tell you about is no exception in the realm of inspiration and influence. I first met Dr. Joe Burns when I was a student of his at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La., back in the early 2000s. I graduated from SLU in 2005, so it was a long time ago, but when I was reacquainted with Joe , it felt like no time had passed at all. One of my favorite memories of Dr. Burns is when he would stand in the front of the class and tell a rowdy bunch of kids to pay attention to him by stating, “Pay attention to me, because I have a tie,” as he pointed to the necktie he was wearing with his collared shirt. He taught me so much, and as a Mass Communications major, I took so many of his classes, that most of my college memories include thoughts of happenings from within his classes. In fact, I credit Dr. Burns as being the one who truly taught me audio and video production because without his instruction, I would not know all I know today—of course, the hands-on experience I had working at 90.9 KSLU FM, now known as 90.9 the Lion , might have helped a tad bit, too. Back in the day when I called SLU home, the Mass Comm department was small, and we were like a family of sorts. I miss that time, and most of all, I miss that era. It truly was much simpler then. Going into this interview, I knew three things about Dr. Burns: he loved Eddie Van Halen , he had previously worked in radio full-time, and he had a great sense of humor. After speaking with Dr. Burns for over an hour and a half (because neither of us could shut up), I learned there is so much depth to his identity and the things he has accomplished and continues to accomplish is just plain remarkable. As one who has led an amazing life, he remains deeply humble. First and foremost, Dr. Burns is a communications professor at SLU , but he also is a f ather, a husband, a producer, a musician, an author, a podcaster, and a master woodworker. He even built his own recording studio, which he aptly titled Loser Studios as a nod to one of his albums, Rock and Roll Loser . Joe’s quirky take on rock music is entertaining, comedic, and sincerely authentic. Take a moment to read this interview, then go check out his latest music release Tools of the Trade via all streaming platforms. It’s very nostalgic for me to hear, because many of my old college buddies make guest appearances on the album in various forms, and it’s just a damn enjoyable album, as all of his releases are. Joe Burns is the epitome of the modern-day Renaissance man. credit: Gary Governale JB : You called a little early! MaM : Well, according to my phone, it says 14:00 on the dot … 2 o’clock! JB : Nicole, my gosh, Nicole! I haven’t seen you since you actually were in my classes. How have you been? MaM : Man, life has been crazy. I want to tell your story, though. You have one of the most distinct voices I have ever heard, and I can always tell it’s you, no matter what. Give me a little background info about where you were born and raised, because I remember you saying you were from Ohio back when I took your classes, and I know you went to Bowling Green University , correct? JB : That was for the Ph.D. I was born in Flint, Mich., actually … back when you could drink the water. It seems that I was always in a new place growing up. In 5th grade was when I made my way to Ohio—specifically Solon, Ohio , which is a suburb of Cleveland , and I grew up in Cleveland through the formative years: 5th grade all the way until the end of high school. That’s my Ohio connection, and I consider Cleveland, Ohio, home. MaM : That’s cool how you have that Ohio connection. My mom is from Ohio, too. She is from a little town called Ashtabula, Ohio , which is right there on Lake Erie . I had the pleasure of visiting up there in 2009 and just fell in love with the area. When did you first pick up guitar and start playing? If I remember correctly, you are a music junkie just like me, and I know you like Steely Dan and Van Halen . Give us a little more info about your music background. JB : Well, my mother put a gun to my head and made me play saxophone (laughs), because that's what a young boy should play … something to be in the high-school band. And, well, she decided one day to play guitar. So, she took lessons at the local cooperative, and we had this really piece of crap Stella guitar that my dad bought, probably from Sears . And she kept coming home with her lessons, and I would have the lesson in 10 or 15 minutes, and my dad finally said after a couple of months, ‘Why don't you just give the guitar to the kid because you're not getting it, and he's got it in about 10 minutes now?’ He probably paid for that for a year afterwards, but I just started getting better and better and better. And I remember I was invited, because all I had were acoustics, these cheap little things that we got at garage sales. And we—one guy asked me, ‘Hey, do you want to be in this band?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I'd love to,’ and my dad talked to the local music guy because I would always go into the same little music store, and the guy said, ‘Oh, yeah, Joe could play rhythm guitar in a band right now.’ Easy to do. And I had gone in there and apparently picked this one guitar off the wall 10 times. It was a Morris electric in Cherry Sunburst . As a matter of fact, it's hanging on the wall right behind me. It maybe is the most balanced instrument I've ever had. You can't even buy them like that anymore; they don't make them. So, I took it and bought a cheap little amp from a friend, and that's when I started playing it: on my 15th birthday. That's really when it came to fruition. And I remember writing my first song on that guitar. I can remember most of the lyrics. It's really sad. (laughs) credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, 15 years old was when you decided, “This is it—I really love guitar, and this is what I want to do,” and you’ve just kind of done it as a hobby over the years, or did you want to do something serious with it? JB : I wanted to do something serious with it all the time. Here's the problem: I'm 6’4” and about 250 pounds, and in Cleveland , when you're that big, you don't become a musician. I was a football player. I was a wrestler. I threw shot put, and music always had to go on the back burner. It's just the way it was. And I mean that; I'm not trying to be clever about it. It's, you know, when you're within the top 10 biggest guys in the high school, you don't get to go play guitar. I played in bands with people now and again, but nothing ever came of it. It wasn't until I got out of college that I started to perform with bands. I was recording with the radio stations, but it wasn’t until I got out of college that I had the opportunity to perform. And, I remember the first real band I was in was a band called Theory. Our first album was going to be called ‘Hypothesis.’ How horrible is that? And then I picked up with a local band that was actually very good, and [I] did a lot of gigging. It was called Rick and the Rockets, and I was one of their rotating guitarists. I was a rocket, and that's pretty much how it went. MaM : So, you mentioned above that you were working in radio, which I know you had a huge career in, so tell us a little more about that. JB : I was not going to go to college and my parents said, ‘Oh yes you will,’ and I said, ‘Oh no I'm not! I'm gonna get on a bus. I'm gonna go out to California , and I'm gonna join up with a band.’ So, what they did was bribe me with a car. Now, don't get me wrong—it was a nice car. It was a ‘79 Camaro with a 354 barrel, you know, powder blue interior. Oh, yeah. If I wasn't ugly and fat, it would have brought the chicks a runnin’. (laughs) MaM : (laughs) Oh yeah, that does sound nice. JB : And I started playing in little bands in college here and there. But what was wonderful is, I got into radio and then you see radio took over, and I would go out now and again with a band. I would sit in with people. I would do a track here and there. But, you know, for 12 years, I ran radio stations and kept everything up and running. MaM : Which radio stations did you work for? JB : I started in Pennsylvania at Titan Radio . That was my college station. I was at two different stations during college—full-time gigs. That was WKST and WFEM . Left there, went to Oklahoma City for KCGK ? I can't remember exactly. I don't think it exists anymore. Left there for WQLT in Florence , Alabama . Left there for KG107 in Utica, New York . Left there for 92 Gold in Southern Pennsylvania . It was actually the Hagerstown, Maryland market. And after that, I quit and went back for a Ph.D. I got the masters while I was running the stations in Pennsylvania. MaM : Wow. How did you end up in Louisiana, of all places, after an incredible career like that? JB : Simple. I got the masters while I was in … and, and by the way, I got the masters on a bet. I used to use the questions in the morning. One of the bits that I did was … ask trivia questions, but they came from the MENSA book, the genius thing. And somebody joked to me, you know, ‘Hey, why don't you go test MENSA? You think you're so smart and all that.’ So, I went, and I tested for MENSA, and you go through about four IQ tests, and I scored above 140 on each of them. So, they invited me to go to York, Pa., and try out to get into the MENSA Society. I took tests and failed. You had to be in the top two percent. I still have the piece of paper because no one believes me. I scored in the top three percent, and I said to them, ‘Don't you people round up?’ And they said, ‘No.’ It’s just with my master's degree, I couldn't find work as a professor, so I kept calling all the rejection letters, and what I kept getting was, ‘You don't have a Ph.D.’ So, [I] went to Bowling Green . I applied to two places: Bowling Green and Kent State . Went to Bowling Green because Kent State said no. Did three years, because they say the average time to get your Ph.D. is five years, and I said, ‘Well, my wife doesn't want to be here very long.’ Bowling Green is nice, but it's just south of Toledo, so you can tell it's a little grungy-greeny. So, finished that up in three years, as quick [sic] as possible. I won the dissertation scholarship. What I didn't win, though, and this still makes me angry to this day, was ... I was up for graduate student of the year, and the woman who was doing the interview told me that she wouldn't vote for me because I, ‘stalked the students.’ MaM : What?!? JB : I didn't stand in one place and lecture to them. I walked around and I engaged them, and I made them speak. This woman is just sitting there filled with liberal arts confidence, right, and I said, ‘Radio communication. This is radio. This is television. We don't play well with introverts. You must understand what we do here.’ She didn’t like that very much, and so, I lost. credit: Gary Governale MaM : I’m assuming getting the job at SLU is what brought you to Louisiana, or was it something else? JB : Yes. Yeah. Well, no—here’s the thing. I got a job immediately. In fact, I was the first in my graduating class to get a job, and it was at a university I absolutely loved. It was one of these little richie, rich schools, and you would think the kids would all be complete jerks and all of it. No, they were great. And it was a school that had money and gorgeous radio stations. It was everything I wanted. It was two hours outside of New York City . So, this whole time we're trying like crazy to have a kid, and we couldn't seem to do it, and my wife finally said [she couldn’t] go through another northern winter. She's from Alabama. I met her when I was at WQLT . So, I kept giving her the chronicle, “Higher Education.” That's the magazine that tells you where the jobs are, and I applied to everything that she wanted me to. I was given two job offers. One in, I think it was Marietta, Ga., at Southern Polytechnic University. I would have been a computer professor. The other one was at Southeastern Louisiana University , and I took it. MaM : So that’s how you ended up here. You were all over the northern part of the U.S., and you get transplanted back down here. (laughs) JB : I don't know what's a better life, and I mean this … I don't know what's a better life because none of my cousins, and both sides of the family—mom and dad—none of my cousins have anything more than a B.A., and I'm not putting that down. Look, a bachelor's degree is, is an impressive thing, but none of them have over that. I am the only one that holds a master's degree. I think one of my cousins does, too, but I'm the only one to hold a Ph.D. … and you ask yourself, ‘Is it better to do what I did and move all over the United States, or is it better to stay put in one place?’ See, all my friends who stayed put in Cleveland all still get together and they all have a good time together. Me, on the other hand, it's a weird existence, and anybody who has had a job where you move all the time [knows] it's hard to make lifelong friends. My wife and I have lived in nine different states. MaM : I admire the fact that you have lived in so many places and have experienced so much. I can completely relate to what you said, though. I went on Apple music recently, to check out your music, and did you know there are two other musicians with the name, Joe Burns? JB : Sure … and there is a soccer player and an ex-football player. It is a very common name. I always tell people, ‘You gotta put that Ph.D. after it to find me!’ But the thing is, every time you put that in, it's not my music that pops up; it's my books, because I had a real success for a good, long while there with creating web pages, and [it was] right at the beginning of the internet and teaching people how to make web pages, and it ended up in a series of five books. That comes up long before the music does, but you know … time marches on. MaM : Refresh my memory on the titles of those books, so I can let our readers know about them. I think it was “HTML for Dummies” or “HTML Goodies?” JB: It was Goodies. ‘HTML for Dummies’ was some corporate thing, and I always hated it because the idea was you have to admit you were stupid to read the books. (laughs) JB : It was ‘HTML’ mainly because, you know, the books were about how to make a website. It was ‘HTML Goodies,’ because the first thing I ever did was put a series of cute little images up online, and my father made the statement that, ‘Oh, look! You got all these little goodies for people to give away.’ So, there you go: ‘HTML Goodies.’ There it was, and now it’s five books. It's been reprinted in at least three languages that I know of. MaM : Wow, that’s impressive. JB : One of them is Polish. (laughs) MaM : I noticed you released an album in 2017 prior to this most recent release. “ One Hell of a Story ” was the title, and I was wondering if that was the first time you had released music on your own? JB : No, as a matter of fact, that was the second album. Here’s the thing … I have always been an extremely pragmatic human being, meaning there are people that if they're not perfect when they come out of the gate, they get very upset and they quit. I put out an album called ‘ Rock and Roll Loser ,’ and you'd have to go to my YouTube channel to hear some of the songs, and there's about three songs on the album, which I think are very, very good, and I'd like to re-record them, but the rest of them are pure crud. MaM : (laughs) JB : I've had people say to me, ‘I listened to ‘ Rock and Roll Loser ,’ and it's terrible,’ and I said, ‘You're absolutely right!’ But you see, I recorded that entire album on a laptop, and the drums were all fake and I didn't understand to put in drum fills. It's horrible, and I urge people to go listen to it. If you want to hear a couple of the very good ones, listen to ‘ Believe ,’ which I really want to re-record, and [then] listen to ‘ Misinformed .’ Those are the two that are actually really good songs. They're just not recorded well because I didn't have the equipment. credit: Gary Governale MaM : So, when you released that, you just released it strictly on YouTube? JB : No, there's a website: www.RockandRollLoser.com . I refused to put out any music and expect someone to give me money for it. I don't want 50 cents or what have you getting between you and you listening to my song. So, I put it out. I just thought it was the greatest album in the world. This happens constantly. You know, you write something, and you go to bed thinking they're gonna hand me the Pulitzer this week, [then y]ou get up in the morning, you listen to it or you read it and you go, ‘What was I … was I drunk?!?’ MaM : (laughs) JB : I go back and listen. The song ‘ Rock and Roll Loser ’ is cute, but it's not much … it's not much more than me figuring out what the heck I'm doing. I'm playing in a couple of bands. The big one at the time was called Impaired Faculties. It was all professors from Southeastern. MaM : I remember hearing about them. Dr. Robison—wasn’t he a part of that? JB : He was the other guitarist. He's the one that came to me, and we played a little bit together and he said, ‘Okay, you and I have got to play dual guitars. We must.’ And I said, ‘Okay.’ So, the whole thing was supposed to be just a fundraiser, and then we discovered we weren’t that bad, and so we kept going. We recorded a couple of songs that nothing's ever happened with them, and then, I wrote a song called ‘ Water Line ’ after the floods, and we made a bunch of money by selling at a dollar a pop, but it was a fundraiser. The whole time, I was doing my radio show or, rather, my podcast ‘ Rock School ,’ and I kept building my home studio and I kept getting better equipment and better equipment. So, when you listen to the second album, which is called One Hell of a Story , you go, ‘Oh my gosh, the songs are getting better.’ And then a year later, my wife and I put out a Christmas album called ‘ Let's Get the Jingle Bell Out of Here ,’ and again, better. We had real success with that. We got on a CD that was sent out, and we were the nobodies next to Sia and Kelly Clarkson and Barry Manilow , and it got sent out to all these radio stations. We had phenomenal success with that album. It got 400 different radio stations to play it. I then started messing around musically with a buddy of mine. You probably remember him: Rusty Gregoire. Do you remember him? MaM : Sure do! I stayed good friends with him for a long time. Now, we’re just Facebook friends. JB : He and I started recording together and I think we have five or six songs, and they're really good. We need to record a few more and put it out, but again, with him … better. I hadn't recorded for, it had to be two years, and I finally just had all these songs that I had written for all these other people. By the way, I put out an entire album called ‘ My Key ’ with a singer named Naomi. If you go to any of the streaming services and you search ‘ My Key ,’ Naomi - N A O M I, Naomi, you'll find that one, and you'll listen to the other albums … and then you’re like, ‘When did you learn to play piano … and saxophone?’. I brought pros in to do all these things, and I think it’s sonically beautiful. credit: Gary Governale MaM : We’ll have to check that one out. JB : I don’t know how to explain it. I guess I don’t sit in a room and play chord after chord after chord, praying that somehow, I’m gonna come up with something. What I do is—in my car—I have found that to be at your most creative peak. Sit still, and let your mind go somewhere. If you sit and force yourself, and you go, ‘It’s time to write a song,’ you’re not gonna do it. Just keep your mouth shut and let your brain turn into clouds, and that’s where the riffs start coming. MaM : So, you mentioned previously that you build your own guitars. Do you play your custom guitars that you’ve built? JB : I built all my guitars. Literally, built all my guitars … and I set the whole system up, and that’s what I did. MaM : What type of blueprint do you use to build your guitars? JB : See, I buy a kit, and all I use from the kit are the neck and the body. I don’t use the crappy stuff. I do all my own electronics. I buy all different pick-ups. I always make a point of finishing them in different colors, and then I call for them by color when recording. MaM : Tell us a little bit about this latest album that you have released. JB : Well, it’s called ‘ Tools of the Trade .’ Why? I don’t know. My wife suggested it, and I thought it was okay. When you listen to ‘ Whadaya Say ,’ it goes to a jazz place in the middle, and the entire solo is played note, harmonic note, harmonic note, harmonic. The second song is called ‘ Not My Circus, Not My Monkey. ’ It has what’s known as a waterfall of harmonics because I want people to go, ‘Wait a minute? What the heck was that?’ It’s a heavy song, but right out of nowhere comes a harmonica. I don’t want to keep playing 145. I want every single song to make people go, ‘What?!? What was that?!’ credit: Gary Governale MaM : I did notice that each track is different and each one reels you in in a different way because of how unique they are. If you were to hear them consecutively, you would not know they are by the same artist. JB : Yeah, I’ve had people say to me, ‘Hey, look, ‘ Not My Circus ’ sounds like Nuno Bettencourt.’ If you write a song that sounds like somebody else, you’re not doing it right. I’ve gotta be honest, there is a little bit of Eddie Van Halen in everything I play, but it doesn’t sound like him. I write these songs and put them together and pray they don’t sound like anyone but me. I’ve probably got seven or eight more riffs just sitting in a file somewhere because I’m probably going to do it again. Somebody said, ‘Why would you release 18 songs in a row?’, and I said, ‘Because I’ve got another 18 … just give me a year.’ MaM : Do you have any plans to play any live shows? Have you thought about maybe doing some local gigs in Hammond? I’d come see it! JB : I’d love to do it, and I’ll contact you when it happens. I want to get out there and do it by myself. I’m not in a band right now, and I think it’s simply because of time. I’d like to get out there like a troubadour. Me and a guitar and do it about once every other week. My wife has even said to me, ‘Why are you not out there playing?’, and I think it’s just because I’m 58 and I’m lazy, but I don’t even need to get paid. I mean, give me some beer and maybe some food. The last time I played a gig, I went three hours straight and didn’t even take a break. I would just like to get up there and strum chords. I can tell you that I’m not a big requests person. I will show up and do a show, and if someone comes up and says, "Play ‘ Margaritaville ',’’ I guess I could, but that’s not my thing. MaM : I know quite a few local musicians who get zany requests when playing live. Like, people like to yell, “Play ‘Free Bird’” at live shows. Not sure why, but they just kind of laugh it off. JB : Wouldn’t it be wonderful to actually learn ‘ Free Bird ?’ The entire 10 or so minutes of it. Some drunk guy in the audience could go, ‘Free Bird!!’, and I could go, ‘Okay!’, and literally play the entire song. MaM : And I would love to see that, and I’d be cheering you on! So, Rock School Records is the imprint you are releasing your music under. Have you used that for all of your releases? JB : Yes, so DistroKid , they wanted a name of a record company, so I had to make something up. I call my studio, though, Loser Studio because the first record was ‘ Rock and Roll Loser .’ It was called that on purpose, because I had it in my head that if what I’m about to create is pure crap, then if I call myself a loser first, then you really can’t make fun of it. credit: Gary Governale MaM : As far as releasing the music, I know you have it on Apple Music, but are you releasing it on other platforms? Where is your music available? JB : I send it out to every venue that will accept it. It’s on Pandora, Spotify, and Apple, and I use YouTube as kind of a fun thing. The first single off the album, and I’m going to really start pushing it soon—it’s called ‘ Tickets Please ,’ and it’s got a video. By the way, there is also a video for ‘ Bad Idea ,’ which is also on the album. There are actually quite a few videos, but you have to go to my YouTube channel to find that. Just know that if you type in “Joe Burns,” you gotta put that Ph.D. behind it. I did have the entire album up there, but once I put it up, I immediately got a copyright strike from a company that makes ukelele music. MaM : (laughs) JB : I laughed at them and took the whole thing down, and I’m sure once I put it up again, I’ll get hit again. I’ll show them, though, that I have the original audio files and everything. MaM : So, your “Rock School” podcast / radio show. I know it used to run on KSLU. Is it still going? JB : Oh no, I’m still doing it. We have won several radio Emmy ’s, probably seven, and we’re now on 32 radio stations, two networks, and the NPR network. We’re trying to get on with the Armed Forces Radio Network . Haven’t heard anything about it, and I think our weekly downloads are somewhere between 25 and 27,000. My wife is actually my co-host now. The thing is, we kept running out of studio time, and I brought the whole thing to my studio. credit: Gary Governale MaM : Ok, last question, are you only using your home studio for recording your personal stuff, or do you plan to open it up to other musicians? JB : I’ve thought about it. I’ve got some ideas. I’ve thought about running wires to my gazebo and then have them record a show for 45 minutes, and then the band will walk away with maybe a five-song demo and a live recording … put it all on a jump drive for them. MaM : Any parting thoughts or words? JB : I really just want, like, 20 minutes of your time. Give my music a listen, and then pass it on to your people. This is a hobby for me. I’m trying really to create some quality music, and I hope you see it that way, too. To check out Joe Burns and his music, hit one of the links below! Joe Burns PhD - YouTube ‎Joe Burns on Apple Music Spotify – Joe Burns Rock School on Apple Podcasts Joe Burns Rock.com - Home Page (joeburnsrocks.com) Joe Burns, Rock and Roll Loser - Homepage Joe Burns - One Hell of a Story - Home Burns Christmas - Home *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? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Just Look Up and Let Go < Back Awake and Alive: How Mod Sun Shifted My Outlook Rian Nickels Jul 11, 2025 Share Just Look Up and Let Go “Every good story needs an intro, so where does this one start? No veils, no curtains, no doors, no walls between what pours out of my hand on to the page, a dream, of course, an American tale of finding magic in the everyday, and acting totally instinctively, a suitcase and a train track on a search for identity, and a quality that entices attention, we’re young and incredibly ambitious, our possibilities are endless, just look up” - Mod Sun In the summer of 2014 , I walked into my skate buddy’s apartment and saw a man on TV that I can only describe as hippy Jesus. He was in a room of lava lamps and beaming with joy. His energy demanded my attention, and his happy-go-lucky vibe was infectious. He was moving like life never hurt him. The music video was ' My Hippy ' by Mod Sun . What started as any other summer afternoon ended up changing the way I viewed life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeZ3dl8DgZg Music video for 'My Hippy' by Mod Sun Growing up, I listened to a lot of emo and post-hardcore ; bands like Silverstein and Hawthorne Heights shaped the way I looked at things. As a teenager, I romanticized sadness. Music about self-harm, self-hate, and toxic love didn’t just soundtrack my life; it started to define it. Those lyrics told me it was normal to feel broken, to treat myself poorly, and to accept the kind of love that left scars. I became fluent in hopelessness and comforted by the idea that it would never get better. But one musician changed everything. So, who is Mod Sun? Well, to the government, his name is Derek Ryan Smith (he changed it to Dylan). However, to his friends and fans, he goes by the nickname Mod . MODSUN is an acronym that he created that stands for “Movement On Dreams Stand Under None” . This means pushing towards your biggest dreams, not letting anyone stand in your way, and never letting anyone overshadow you. I fell headfirst into Mod Sun’s world. His lyrics weren’t about heartbreak or giving up; they were about being glad to be alive. (That on its own was so foreign to me.) His music introduced me to positive thinking, setting intention, and the idea that your thoughts shape your reality. In 2015 , Mod released his first studio album, Look Up , and suddenly the spaces in my head that once echoed lyrics like “cut my wrists and black my eyes” were being replaced with “if you woke up, you got a reason to celebrate.” But I wasn’t abandoning my sad girl roots; I just wasn’t stuck in it anymore. The new music didn’t erase my sadness, but it helped me realize I didn’t have to be defined by it. This new outlook didn’t stay confined to my headphones. It seeped into my day-to-day; how I spoke, how I carried myself, and how I connected to others. When summer of 2015 came around, it only made sense that the next chapter to this transformation would happen in the same place it started. A place where the new and old could collide: Warped Tour . Just me at Warped Tour 2015 There’s something poetic about going back to the scene of your former self. It’s the same music festival, the same heat, and the same eyeliner, but with a new perspective. Warped Tour wasn’t just a concert, but a nod to the person I was becoming. I spent the day reliving my emo roots, but I was really there to see Mod in the flesh. The crowd wasn’t the largest, but you wouldn’t have known it by his energy. When he performed ' Howlin’ at the Moon ', a song about having gratitude, the entirety of the crowd knew every word. This brought him to tears; he could see that what he was doing mattered to people. They liked this new sound, but they enjoyed seeing someone savor every drop of life even more. On my way out of Warped , I gave Mod a bracelet that read “Sup My Hippy,” and he signed the book I bought from his merch table. The bracelet I made https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_3e490852569347239a525c42f238e9e8/360p/mp4/file.mp4 A video I took at Warped Tour 2015 His book , Did I Ever Wake Up? looks like a memoir, but it turns out to be a handbook for self-perseverance—something between a diary and a mental toolkit. The book covers his upbringing and music career, but it also shares overlapping messages with his music. The idea is that you must know what you want and be sure that you can obtain it. This made me realize that I didn’t really know what I wanted from life. But what I did know was that I didn’t want to be the person who brought the rainclouds to every room. I wanted to be a light for the ones who were lost in the same kind of darkness that I had once claimed as my identity. Released December 15, 2012 The best book ever! After setting that intention, things already began to shift; even small things that I didn’t realize held so much weight. I started wearing things that just made me feel happy instead of trying to be a particular aesthetic. Just Me! Me again! I picked up art again. I got his signature tattooed to remind me to keep going. I stopped seeing pain as something I owed myself. I realized that my body wasn’t a canvas for punishment or a notebook for all the things I couldn’t say. I didn’t stop being sad overnight, but I no longer built my entire life around it. My tattoo! Signed by the man himself! The one and only Mod Sun! I stopped looking down at all the ways things could end and started to look up at the possibilities. I shared these ideas with anyone who would listen, and I lent out Mod’s book to whoever would read it. I talked about gratitude, intention, and the law of attraction. It started to catch on; my friends began to show more compassion, let go of bitterness, and embrace possibility. What started as a personal awakening began to ripple through my community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwe2dPR5ums A video I made Friends! In the spring of 2016 , Mod Sun had a tour stop near me in New Orleans . Some friends and I took the drive to see him perform. When Mod got to the venue, he didn’t hide away like most well-known musicians. He stood out front and talked with each person who wanted to. Just me talking to Mod Sun in New Orleans When it was showtime, he didn’t take a special door through the back but instead walked through the front like everyone else. They always say not to meet your heroes, but after meeting him, I was stunned at how normal it felt. There was no barrier, no ego, or celebrity attitude. He was human. He treated us like old friends, laughed with us, danced with us during the opener, and radiated the same energy on and off the stage. Credit: Rian Nickels The best day ever! Life has a way of putting what you’ve learned to the test, though. The months after that show brought some of the darkest points of my life. I lost some friends to addiction and depression. Somewhere within the mess, I’d lost myself too. I left all the tools I learned behind when I needed them the most. I was dealing with the weight of things I never had to carry before, and Mod’s relentless positivity became a language I was no longer fluent in. That was until Spring of 2017 when he released his second album, Movie . After months of being distant from him, this project dragged me back in. Movie wasn’t just party anthems and affirmations; it was about heartbreak, self-blame, fake friends, and the messy parts of healing. This album met me right where I was. It showed me that Mod wasn't some out-of-touch optimist that was blind to the bad; he walked through it, too. It showed me that his life wasn’t perfect, that he, like anyone else, had dealt with insecurity, loss, and adversity. This album gave me a song for everything I was going through. Even when things got heavy, Mod Sun was there to remind me to keep pushing. Regardless of the trauma, mistakes, or loss, you still have to get back up and make something of yourself. I was reminded that growth doesn't mean avoiding pain. There is no light without darkness. By the end of 2017 , Mod Sun released his third album , BB , and it came with a renewed sense of joy. It echoed that same optimism from Look Up , but now it came from someone who was more grounded. It came from someone who had seen the dark and chose the light anyway. BB reminded me that life comes with highs and lows, and that after each low, there will always be a high, even if it takes a while to come. Just me! So excited! In the years after Mod Sun dabbled in other creative outlets like painting, making clothes, and writing more books. But in 2019 , he did something lifesaving; he decided to get sober . He came clean about his battle with addiction and how it had affected his life and the people around him. He was transparent, and he apologized. Before this, I had never seen anyone successfully get sober, and more importantly, I had never really seen anyone own their mistakes, take accountability for them, and follow that up with action. I had watched so many people lose themselves in addiction, and this was the push I needed to take my own steps in that direction. So, I tattooed the words “Look Up” on my foot; it serves as a permanent reminder, and I haven’t touched those substances since. My tattoo Around the pandemic , Mod Sun’s sound started to shift from his signature Hippy Hop to a more angst-driven Alternative Rock vibe with albums like Internet Killed The Rockstar and God Save The Teen . Nowadays, Mod has blended the sounds of Hip-Hop and Pop-Punk, bouncing around all the avenues he’s taken and still exploring new ones. My playlists bounce between genres and moods these days, but Mod’s impact on me never faded. I like to think that Mod and I both found a way to appreciate the balance of life. To hold space for the dark and the light. To carry both joy and grief. To dance with the highs and sit with the lows. To know that you can wear tie-dye one day and all black the next. That sadness and happiness don’t cancel each other out but instead coexist. That growth isn’t about being brand-new. It’s about fully accepting yourself in every season of life. That healing doesn’t mean erasing the past; it means making something out of it. Because of Mod Sun, I’ve done things I never thought I’d be capable of. I’ve finished things I used to abandon. I’ve started projects that scared me, I’ve chased dreams that felt too big and believed that I was allowed to yearn for more. He helped me believe that I was allowed to have big dreams and that, more importantly, I could reach them. His lyrics planted the seed that I wasn’t just meant to survive, I was meant to build a life worth showing up for. He didn’t just help me get better; he showed me that I could save myself. Not everyone vibes with his music or his message. Some people think he’s cringeworthy, or they can’t look past his mistakes. No matter how he’s perceived, it doesn’t undo the impact he’s made. Mod Sun is living proof of the power of believing in yourself. He showed a bunch of broken people that they didn’t have to stay broken. He showed us the path less traveled, and reminded us to keep traveling it. If you take anything from this, let it be this: What you say to yourself holds power. Show yourself some love because you’re still here, waking up every single day. Still building who you’re meant to be. Permit yourself to dream bigger. Remember that your impact on the world matters. Do something that inspires people. Find something to celebrate in each day. Make your life a movie. Don’t forget to look up. “No matter the amount of negativity you’re presented with, five minutes from now could be your best moment.” - Mod Sun To learn more about Mod Sun: www.modsunmusic.com Mod Sun Merch Shop the Official Mod Sun Merch Store for exclusive merch including tees, hoodies, accessories, & more! Find details of the Mod Sun tour, Mod Sun tickets, & Mod Sun 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

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

Never give up on your dreams. < Back Rian's Den: A Night to Remember with Sleeping with Sirens Rian Nickels Oct 9, 2024 Share Never give up on your dreams. I typically write concert reviews, but let's be honest – almost everyone knows who Sleeping with Sirens is, and if you don't, all the info about the band members, their accomplishments, and their rise in their career can be found on their Wikipedia page. If you want to know what they sound like LIVE, I promise you that thousands of videos are available. I'm trying to say they are popular in the post-hardcore - emo - alternative scene. At this point, they've transcended generations, rising to fame with Millennials and Gen Z and resurfacing amongst younger folks from Gen Z and older folks from Gen Alpha due to apps like TikTok . So, What I'm here to tell you instead is the story of how Sleeping with Sirens impacted me to find and follow my dreams. It's just me! The year is 2012, and you're an angsty & edgy teenager still trying to become who you are, trying to find your musical taste, your place in the world, and the words for the thousands of intense feelings you have. In your coming-of-age journey, you're sitting in your high school cafeteria. Your friend starts talking about a beautiful man with the voice of an angel, Kellin Quinn – they see the look of confusion on your face and demand that you go home and search for Sleeping with Sirens on YouTube . Upon doing so, you come upon songs that will later be anthems of multiple generations, ' King for A Day ' featuring Pierce the Veil and ' If You Can't Hang '– your friend was right; he's beautiful, and he truly has what I would consider the voice of an angel. With his impressive vocal range, he can go from singing high-pitched notes and lovely harmonies to low screams that add more raw emotion to the songs. While you might have already been into bands like Mayday Parade and Hawthorne Heights , this day will shape your musical taste. It will be the first step to an over a decade-long journey. Credit: Rian Nickels The thing about Sleeping with Sirens is that the lyrics make you feel understood as a teenager and even as an adult. The songs put feelings into words that you didn't have yet. Tracks like " Tally Up, Settle the Score , " a song about being motivated to prove the people who doubted you wrong, encouraged you to push beyond your peers' hate and doubt. Songs like ' Who Are You Now ' ask the question of who you became after the world tried to change you. When you didn't have the words to describe the intense feelings of wanting to love and be loved, you had ' If I'm James Dean & You're Aubrey Hepburn .’ When you were left wondering how a parent could go without caring about you, you had ' A Trophy Father's Trophy Son .' You could scream the lyrics " Is this what you call a family ?" to the rooftops. If you had a partner who cheated on you, you had ' If You Can't Hang ' to sing along to. Sleeping with Sirens has a song for every hardship, every milestone, and every feeling you come across. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_9fb74e0ccb5c460e9f6def7c28bd190d/480p/mp4/file.mp4 The year is 2014; you're still just as ever, an angsty and emotional teen. You're going to Warped Tour with your friends to see bands like Attila , Mayday Parade , Breathe Carolina , and Sleeping with Sirens . If you were anything like me, you were a reserved and anxious teen who had never done anything significant. This was the most people you've ever been around and the most bands you'd ever seen on the same day. You notice that other people on Warped Tours are crowd-surfing, so think, "Oh, I could never do that." But when Sleeping with Sirens plays ' Do it Now Remember it Later ,' you think, "Well, why COULDN'T I?", so you find a trusting spot in the crowd and ride the wave of hands launching you forward at your chance to see the band up close if even only for a second. This is only the beginning of you coming out of your shell. It's the first time you genuinely feel accepted and realize other people are just like you. People with neon-colored hair, piercings, dark clothes, but most importantly, people who feel the way you have . A young me crowdsurfing at a Sleeping with Sirens show. In the years after the Warped Tour 2014 , Sleeping with Sirens continued to be there for us, motivate us forward, and ultimately explode in popularity. I didn't find my niche as a photographer until 2023. I had done small concerts before and knew I loved it, but I needed to be more dedicated. I didn't have the drive or the energy to accomplish it. But in 2023, I attended the So What Music Festival . On the first day, Sleeping with Sirens headlined the fest. Throughout the day, I saw various concert photographers running around taking photos, and I couldn't help but be jealous. I wanted to be them SO BAD. Just a pic of me from back in the day. When Sleeping with Sirens went on, they played such a fantastic performance that set in stone for me what I wanted to do with my life - Be a concert photographer. They cemented it even further by telling the crowd, "No dream is too big; you just have to push yourself in the right direction to get there," before telling us how they used to be a bunch of guys with a dream, too. I knew then that I would spend whatever time it took and do whatever it took to achieve my goals. The first step was making a goal. I looked at my partner during SWS and told them with my entire chest, "I promise you I will take their photos next year; I don't know how I'll do it, but I will." This feeling only solidified after seeing bands like Pierce the Veil and Neck Deep – all-time favorites of mine. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_416b479a053943d1a2037563467d3fb0/720p/mp4/file.mp4 Upon going home from the fest, I uploaded all the work I deemed worthy from previous music photo gigs to Instagram. By January 2024, my musician friends were starting to hit me up and ask me to photograph their performances. Even though I hadn't been taking photos for years. I pushed myself forward to doing it and, within a couple of months of feeling comfortable, found an alternative music publication based in my state! Mixed Alternative Magazine interviewed a local band I'd previously taken photos of. Reaching out, showing my portfolio, and trying to join the team would be good. Mixed Alt was thrilled about me wanting to join and drilled it into my head that I was talented in what I was doing. It felt good to be a part of something bigger than just myself. Throughout the year, I'd pick up all the gigs of my friends that I could. I grew my talent, got better equipment, and returned to my love of writing thanks to the woman behind all the magic at Mixed Alt Mag – Nicole Brice . When I saw that Sleeping with Sirens was coming to the House of Blues in New Orleans , I knew I would probably not get it, but I asked Nicole if we could try anyway. She allowed me to try, and we waited and waited and waited for what seemed like forever. Thirty hours before the show, I got an email saying I had been approved. I remember losing my mind. "OH, FUCK OH FUCK NO WAY NO WAY, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT OMG," I said. I couldn't believe I was accepted ! After over a year of sweat, tears, and dedication, I was meeting my massive goal of photographing one of my favorite bands. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/999a0f_722c67b858d84024a6ae672ad46a756d/720p/mp4/file.mp4 When I found myself in the photo pit of The House of Blues, taking photos of them performing ' Do It Now Remember It Later ,' it brought me back to that 16-year-old girl who was trying to find her place in the world, crowd-surfing to that same song at Warped tour 12 years ago. It brought me back to the 27-year-old woman I had grown to become just a year before screaming the lyrics to her partner and starting a dream in that field. It reminded me of all the past friends, lovers, adults, and press managers who said I couldn't do it. It showed me that every single step I had taken since I was 16 years old brought me to this moment – standing directly in front of Kellin Quinn and his fellow bandmates, capturing the magic through my lens, from my own eyes—the adrenaline from being so close and feeling so proud of myself pumped through my veins. Credit: Rian Nickels I guess my purpose of this alternate article was to tell you – just like Sleeping with Sirens would – to never give up on your dreams. As sappy as it is, dreams can come true, and you can achieve anything if you truly set your heart and mind to it. *All photos courtesy of Rian Nickels - to see more, check out Rian's site below. rianmusicjpeg.myportfolio.com Rian Haynsworth www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . 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Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 2: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 23, 2023 Share Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. Welcome back to part two of your blue-collar philosophy lesson led by your good Ole Uncle Zeke. In Part 1 of John Kramer and Saw ’s philosophy , I made the proposition that understanding John Kramer’s actions and statements from the Saw franchise only make sense when viewed through the philosophical lens of nihilism. In this post, I’m going to point out places in the Saw franchise where Kramer's morality seems to be confused , and then as we move forward, we are going to look at these things through both passive and radical nihilism (I will define these terms later in the series). But first, we need to investigate these instances and the criticism against Jigsaw in order to truly understand his ethical foundation in light of nihilism. To begin, much of the hate thrown at Jigsaw is understandable, given his poor word choices. What do I mean? Those of you who have watched the Saw movies will get where I’m coming from, but those of you who haven’t need to stick with me, because when you do go and watch the films, you can keep this in mind when exploring these places of convoluted morality. In the original Saw (2004), John Kramer/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, of Let Us In ) tells Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Kill Speed ) she needs a key to escape from the reverse bear trap wrapped around her face. He says the key is located in the stomach of her dead cellmate and assures her by stating, “Know that I am not lying.” Copyright Lionsgate Entertainment He says the key is located in the stomach of her dead cellmate and assures her by stating, “Know that I am not lying.” The only problem? Jigsaw was lying. Amanda’s cellmate is drugged, not dead. Now jump ahead to Saw III . Kramer says he is the only one who knows where Jeff’s abducted daughter is. Not true. Again, he lies; Hoffman also knows where she is. Granted, these could just be mistakes in the script but whatever they are, they make Kramer come across as completely incoherent, even more so when we move on to Saw IV (2007). In Saw IV , Jigsaw tells Rigg (Lyriq Bent, of She’s Gotta Have It ) to force Ivan (Marty Adams, of Hemlock Grove ) into a position and let him choose his own fate. The only catch? In 60 seconds, the choice will be made for him. If Kramer’s purpose is truly to teach Rigg that people must save themselves, this added caveat seems to nullify such ends . Moral critics of the Saw franchise have had a field day with the above-listed examples, saying they are proof positive John Kramer was a hypocrite. But the accusations don’t stop here. The critics further scrutinize his ethical demands by blasting Kramer for making his victims choose immoral actions. Let’s jump back to the original Saw movie. Kramer instructs Zep (Michael Emerson, of Lost ) to kill a mother and her child in order to save his own life. This makes Jigsaw come across as someone who loathes any type of altruism or self-sacrifice for others. To Kramer, it seems like self-sacrifice just gets in the way of people valuing their own lives. But it doesn’t stop there. Critics go after Kramer for his victim selection as well. Take Saw IV , for example. I’m trying to avoid spoilers when I can, so let’s just say Ivan and Brenda (Sarain Boylan, of Rookie Blue ) in this movie are both guilty of criminal acts. These acts, however, are vastly different and in no way deserving of equal punishment. But guess what? Jigsaw punishes them both in the same manner. This all takes place during Rigg’s game. And what was Rigg’s game? To teach him that he cannot save everyone, which means these victims were just pawns and meant to die. In fact, Rigg isn’t even given instructions on how to save Brenda at all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN8r_17ElsE Then there is Adam (Leigh Whannell, of Insidious franchise) from Saw . Jigsaw never gives him a game of his own to play. He is just a pawn in Lawrence’s (Cary Elwes, of The Princess Bride ) game. This theme of “pawn sacrifice” carries on throughout the entire Saw series . Take Joyce (Gina Holden, of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem ) from Saw 3D (Saw VII) . She is completely innocent and is burned alive in order to punish her fiancé, Bobby (Sean Patrick Flanery, of The Boondock Saints ). Bobby even objects to Kramer by saying Joyce doesn’t deserve to be here. This random victim selection is a big problem in Saw 3D . We are never given any reasoning as to why Dina (Anne Lee Greene, of Femme Fatales ) or the racist gang are selected (other than they are racist). There is a great chance for Saw 3D to answer this question when Officer Mike asks himself, “Why them? Why now?” but these questions are never answered. There are more examples, but these are enough to show why critics say what they do about the Saw franchise, and about John Kramer’s convoluted morality and his supposed purpose. Indeed, these inconsistencies seem to really piss in the Cheerios of Kramer’s mission , which is to teach people how to value their lives . On the surface, his victim choice seems to be totally unjust and as random as natural selection in nature. This would indicate all of Kramer’s preaching on righteousness and justice are totally hypocritical. Mix this in with the fact many of the victims ARE NOT guilty of undervaluing their lives, and it is a glaring problem. Let’s go back to Rigg and Saw IV again. Rigg certainly seems to value life and seeks to preserve it. And what about the five victims in Saw V (2008)? I’ve watched it countless times and can’t find anywhere in the film where these people don’t value their lives. What is evident, however, is that they do not value the lives of other people. But the one victim in the entire franchise that doesn’t make a lick of sense according to Jigsaw’s mantra of appreciating life is Bobby in Saw 3D . He is not guilty of undervaluing his life or the lives of others—he simply lied about surviving a Jigsaw trap. Sure, it is a slap in the face to the real survivors, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t value his life. The critics come out in full force over these apparent inconsistencies, arguing there is a huge disconnect between Kramer’s desire to save people and to murder them. To the critics, John Kramer is a murderer rather than the saviour he claims to be. Credit: Getty Images Jigsaw then becomes nothing better than the erroneous view of God who plays “Duck, Duck, Damn” with his creations, choosing people at random to condemn to hell. In their eyes, Kramer selects people just to eliminate them. So, I close with this: Given this information, what is Kramer’s mission? What’s his end goal? Is it to rehabilitate people or to kill them? Are the two outcomes really any different? Is true change only possible through the destruction of one's own flesh? Such questions belong to the paradigm of nihilism, and it is these questions we will seek to answer in the next two articles, which will compare John Kramer to both passive nihilism and radical nihilism. 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

Life Øn Mars is a beacon of creativity and musicianship < Back Life Øn Mars: Unleashing Musical Brilliance Nicole Brice Aug 15, 2023 Share Life Øn Mars is a beacon of creativity and musicianship In the vast universe of music, ever so often a band emerges that challenges conventions, defies expectations, and takes us on an extraordinary sonic journey. Enter Life Øn Mars, a metalcore band from Lafayette, Louisiana, with unparalleled creativity. With its beginnings in 2022, the band is currently comprised of Jack Torry on vocals, Brayden McClelland and Max Hellickson on guitar, Ryan March on bass, and Holden Hebert on drums. Credit: provided by band These guys have had a busy year thus far releasing new music both in February and June of 2023 and show no signs of slowing down. With their exceptional musicianship, boundless creativity, and a penchant for pushing the boundaries musically, their evolution as musicians is sure to bring further innovation. Set to perform at Rad Fest 2023 at PARC International in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, on August 19, 2023, Life Øn Mars is ready to take you on a musical journey that transcends boundaries and is the fifth band in our installment of interviews with all acts on the bill. In an age where conformity and predictability seem to reign supreme, Life Øn Mars emerges as a beacon of creativity and musicianship, and we can’t wait to hear more from them. Powerful vocals with tight production round out the sound for this band. We know you’ll enjoy their music as much as we do. We recently reached out to the band to learn a little more about them and were able to connect with guitarist Max Hellickson. Take a moment to learn a little more about Life Øn Mars and then be sure to catch their set at Rad Fest on Saturday, August 19. MaM : I see 2023 has been a busy year for you. Your single “Vandal” was released in February 2023 and then your newest single, “Whitewall,” was released June 16, 2023. How do you feel about the year so far? MH : 2023 has been a very productive year for us. We’ve been writing a ton of new music and slowly integrating our new originals into our live set. ‘Vandal’ was the first one and it did pretty well! ‘Whitewall’ was a lot of fun to write and record and one of our favorites to play live. MaM : “Vandal” reminds me of Killswitch Engage with the screams in the beginning that fade to a strong vocal chorus. Who do you cite as your influences both vocally and musically? MH : Collectively the band has a very diverse range of music tastes. We’re big fans of genres like hardcore and modern metalcore, which explains the Killswitch Engage-type sound. Some of us also listen to more ambient and soft genres that inspire us. Some bands we take inspiration from are Alpha Wolf, Knocked Loose, Invent Animate, Wage War, Gojira, Sleep Token, Architects, and plenty of others. Credit: provided by band MaM : What inspires you lyrically? Life happenings or abstract concepts? MH : A bit of both. We pull inspiration from events in our lives that have deeply affected us and try to express them in different ways. We attempt to connect to our listeners and fans in any way possible, and writing lyrics that resonate with them is the best way. MaM : Are there plans to record an EP or an entire album, or do you plan on just continuing to release singles? MH : We are currently in the process of finishing our debut album set to release in early 2024. Credit: provided by band MaM : Give us a brief history behind the band name. Obviously, it speaks for itself, but I’d like to hear your take on it. MH : So, the name just came from us brainstorming band name ideas. Holden came up with the name Life Ø n Mars as a reference to the David Bowie song. Max had the idea of putting the accent on the ‘O’ to make it look like a planet and make it look more original. MaM: How did you hear about Rad Fest and what expectations do you have going into the festival? Will your set list have a few surprises? MH : We heard about Rad Fest from our friends who played the festival last year and we’ve been working really hard this year and then we got invited to play. We are super stoked to be a part of this new Lafayette staple in our scene. It really brings everyone together and we’re excited to be a part of this year's festival. As far as surprises go, we may be debuting a new song set to be on our album. Stay tuned! Credit: provided by band MaM : If you could share the stage with any well-known band in the future, who would it be? MH : A dream show of ours would be to play with Knocked Loose and Alpha Wolf . They have really inspired us. We have also seen both bands a couple of times. MaM : What are the aspirations for the band long term? MH : To make music that people enjoy and to create a live experience that leaves our audiences with memories they will never forget or to inspire those to pick up an instrument or start singing. Music is a powerful thing. We love seeing more people in the scene. To check out the music of Life Øn Mars in preparation for Rad Fest, be sure to hit one of the links below, then show them some love by following them on social media. YouTube : Life Øn Mars - YouTube Instagram : LIFE ØN MARS (@lifeonmarsofficial) • Instagram photos and videos Facebook : www.facebook.com/lifeonmarsofficial Twitter : X (twitter.com) Apple Music : ‎Life Øn Mars on Apple Music Spotify : Life Øn Mars | 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

Tunes to expand your sonic palette. < Back Nick’s Corner: Playlist Picks for November 2024 Nick Cline Nov 22, 2024 Share Tunes to expand your sonic palette. It’s that time again! It’s time for another entry on Nick's Corner. This time around I’ll be supplying you with some new recommendations that will expand your sonic palette just in time for the Thanksgiving season. We’ll be digging into the standard routine of local picks that deserve way more attention, and some legacy/national picks that deserve way more attention as well. 1 Amigo by The Glorious Sons Click to listen Deets about the track : First up on the chopping block is ' Amigo ' by The Glorious Sons . This track, with its almost seven-minute length, is a masterpiece of harmonies and storytelling. It's a tale of finding yourself, loneliness, death, and accepting that sometimes the world in front of us is not for us. The song opens with a beautiful piano melody, leading into the reminiscent lyrics of friendship/younger years. The story carries on into the territory of remembering someone that was not made for the time they were forced into, but in the end, fell victim to the society that gave up on so many before him. The mixing of this song is something to adore alone, but the lyrical prowess packaged with the beautiful harmonies is what truly makes it a masterpiece. This is a great introduction to the beautiful harmonies and storytelling of The Glorious Sons' music. They have easily become my favorite band from Canada, and this song is the perfect addition to anyone's playlist if they are looking for a powerful ballad that tackles themes of self-realization, isolation, and everything in between. 2 I'll See You All in Hell or New Orleans by Dax Riggs Click to listen Deets about the track : This next one is a little bit of an in-between pick. The reason for this is that Dax Riggs , a local legend and national talent, is an artist who deserves more attention. He's known for his unique blend of blues, rock, and folk, and his solo catalog is a treasure trove of musical gems. One such gem is ' I’ll See You All in Hell or New Orleans '. This track offers a lyrical and musical sensation that is beautiful just as much as it is haunting. The slow blues oriented music offers a sense of solace and familiarity to the music found in the swamps of Louisiana. The “droning” of the lyrics is like a ghost whispering in your ear. The music tackles this theme very well because the mixing of the two has offered a back and forth sort of wailing and theme of abandonment, retribution, and haunting sorrow. This is just one of the many Dax Riggs songs that I feel deserve way more attention. Do yourself a favor and deep dive this local legend because you will not be disappointed. 3 Down to Me by Double Knockout Click to listen Deets about the track : ' Down to Me ' by Double Knockout . This track brings back a tone that's been missing for a while. It has a sense of scope, yet it also offers a nostalgic feel that's reminiscent of the late 2000’s/early 2010’s. The melodies, lyrics, and rhythms are a burst of adrenaline. From the first note, you're ready to get up and dance. This energy is sustained throughout the entire song, a feat that few bands can achieve. At the end of the day, this song leaves me eager for more. It's a must-have for your favorite local band playlists because Double Knockout never disappoints, and trust me, they have more in store that might just surpass this one. I can't wait to hear what they'll bring next. 4 Second Guess by Genuine Mustard Click to listen Deets about the track : The fourth entry for this addition to Nick’s Corner is, ' Second Guess ' by Genuine Mustard . The song is featured on their self-titled EP from 2020. It offers your daily dose of folk rock with the sensibilities of indie rock and pop. It offers a “calm” introduction to Genuine Mustard as the lyrics, melodies, and music give you a rough guess on what can be offered by the band. Check out more of this band both live and in-studio because, trust me, you will not be disappointed. If you are a fan of The Backseat Lovers , Tell Me I’m Pretty era Cage The Elephant , and other indie classics, then you will find a new favorite in Genuine Mustard. Keep a close eye on this band, and hurry yourself to add Second Guess to your daily playlist. 5 Evil Eye by Fu Manchu Click to listen Deets about the track : This final track is for the lovers of fuzzed out high octane rock/grunge. This classic from Fu Manchu is ' Evil Eye .' It's a song that's not just music, but a surge of energy that sounds like a car wreck in your eardrums. From the lyrics to the music, it's a track that's bound to get you up and moving. Personally, this track and this band in general are not just influences, but the very foundation of my writing and style in my own band, Phantum Sun. This is a great addition for anyone looking to wake up with the energy to knock a wall down headfirst. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90's flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

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

Playlist picks to awaken the senses. < Back Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for July 22nd Nick Cline Jul 22, 2024 Share Playlist picks to awaken the senses. Hey, everyone! Sorry for the delay, but here we are again with another entry of ‘ Nick's Corner ’. This time around, we are going to recommend more local picks than national picks. So, buckle up! Let's get into this month's recommendation, which is filled with classics and your new favorite tracks. 1 Losing Control by Sick at Heart Deets about the track : First up on the chopping block, we have Losing Control by Sick at Heart . Losing Control is an absolute banger of a track. The raw emotion that is showcased in the track is something that everyone could use in their playlist. Reminiscent of Flyleaf with hints of Evanescence , Losing Control has hard-driven riffs, a body-rattling rhythm section, and soaring vocals. I highly recommend Losing Control for your playlist if you are looking for local talent that could easily compete with some national acts. 2 Lucidity by We Are the Virus Deets about the track : Next, we have a killer jam from We Are the Virus . We Are the Virus offers a significant amount of instrumental metal to get your blood pumping. My favorite track from them is Lucidity . This track offers an intense onslaught of riffs, drums, and everything else you can ask for in an exceptionally mixed song. If you are looking for something to raise your heart rate, pump you up, or make you feel like you are about to power through your moments of life, then We Are the Virus has a multitude of tracks to offer you. 3 Alone by Stella Vir Deets about the track : If you are looking for modern sounds that flow with the nostalgia of the early 2000s emo , alternative , and hard rock sound, Stella Vir 's Alone is the right pick. This hard rock ballad has something for everyone with one sonically satisfying project that is just the tip of the iceberg when looking at the rest of their top-notch discography. I highly recommend this pick if you are looking for the next boost of adrenaline, but, at the same time, it brings you into a story of melancholy, hopes, and sentiments washed over in realization and reality. 4 The Thing That Should Not Be by Metallica Deets about the track : For the next two picks, we are going to look at some nationally known acts, both classical and new. The Thing That Should Not Be by Metallica is the first classic pick to throw your way. This track is my favorite from Metallica's 1986 album, ‘ Master of Puppets ’. It's a sinister track wrapped in lyricism about Lovecraftian lore, haunting and melancholy music, and vocals that wrap the whole project together. If you want a classic thrash pick with epic standards of otherworldly stories, haunting riffs, and much more, this track would be the perfect pick for your playlist. 5 Cosmic by Avenged Sevenfold Deets about the track : Next, we have Cosmic by Avenged Sevenfold . From start to finish, Cosmic offers a wide range of sounds over its eight-minute runtime. It starts off somber, but, overtime, it builds more and more into a thematically excited set of tones, musical quality, and so much more. The riffs, chord progressions, solos, operatic sections, and storytelling are all above the tier of most modern rock. This is a quality choice for just about any playlist that I highly recommend. Nick Cline is the powerhouse behind the Louisiana-based band, Phantum Sun , and loves checking out new music. Got something you think he'd like? Email us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Music of Tyler Underwood < Back Authentic, Heartfelt, Soulful, and Deep Keeley Brooks & Nicole Brice Mar 17, 2023 Share The Music of Tyler Underwood Every once in a while, a new artist appears on scene with music so relatable, you can’t help but get lost in nostalgia when listening to his/her/their tunes. Tyler Underwood is one of those artists, and you’re gonna want to stay with us on this one, because this kid is the picture of resilience and perseverance. Underwood is a singer/songwriter, musician, and producer based out of Florence, Alabama. Born as the youngest of five children, he has lived a rough life, but that has never stopped him from being creative or longing to make music. In fact, his early experiences are what drove him to seek refuge in creating music. Soulful and melodic with heartfelt lyrics is the best way to describe Tyler’s sound. He has quite an incredible story to tell, and we are thankful he reached out to us so we could stumble upon his talents. His beats are catchy, relaxing, and smooth, and the song lyrics resonate deeply on every level. With thought-provoking imagery strewn throughout his tunes, Tyler’s exceptional use of words makes for a vivid listening experience. To be quite honest, his music reminds us of Jason Mraz but with an edge. It's that feel-good singer/songwriter material that one puts on in the car to sing to at the top of their lungs. To give you guys a better understanding of who Tyler Underwood is, we threw him some questions recently, so get ready, because he’s got one hell of a story. Photo provided by artist MaM : So, Tyler, thanks so much for chatting with us about your life and music. Why don’t you give us a little background on who you are. TU : I was born in Florence in 1993. I'm the youngest of five. My dad was in prison most of my life, so some of my earliest memories were staying in hotels just to go and visit him on occasion. My mom was a rockstar taking care of five kids on her own. We moved around the [Muscle Shoals area] for a while until I was 12. My mom and brother and I moved to Georgia because my brother had some run ins with the police, so we tried to escape. We rented a room out of someone's house and worked on a farm to pay for the stay and food. It was later found [out] that I wasn't going to school and there was a lot of drug activity going on in the house, so I was taken from my mom and placed in a group home. My brother ended up getting caught and sent back to Alabama. My mother didn't really have a place to stay in Georgia, [so] she moved back to Bama. After being in the group home for a couple of years, it was almost time for me to go home. My mom finished all paperwork and passed inspection for them to send me home. A couple months later, she passed away due to Emphysema. After her passing, I chose to stay in the group home. I felt like there wasn't nothing [sic] good for me back home. I probably would've dropped out of school or got into drugs. Luckily, I had a loving support group at the Open Door Children's Home, [and] that made me feel … safe enough to live there and see the other guys that lived there as family. It was around this time that I started writing songs and making music. I formed a rap duo with my best friend, and we began working on songs for mixtapes. MaM : Wow, that’s a lot to deal with at such a young age. We’re glad you found music both as an escape and as a way of connecting to who you are. TU : Yeah. I went on to graduate high school in 2012 while working at a radio station and a local restaurant, [then] I enrolled in the Atlanta Institute of Music to pursue an associate degree in audio recording and production. … During that time, I was freelancing as an audio engineer and producer, recording rappers and singers in my bedroom, and mixing and mastering their songs. After graduating in 2014, I started my own production company by the name of The Lokkz Music. I would have artists bring me basic structures or ideas of songs and I'd produce full-fleshed songs for them. After doing that for three years, I became frustrated, because most of the artists I was making songs for weren't pushing their music like they should. I just felt like we made beautiful music that just landed on deaf ears, so I began to focus back on making my own music. After going through a tough breakup, I had nowhere to go and was basically sleeping in my car trying to keep things going. After about a month, I finally bit the bullet and decided to move back to Florence and start over. I put a pause on most of my music work and got a job serving tables. After going from job to job, place to place, and going through another failed relationship, I finally set my studio back up and started working again. I started recording songs and … learning covers to start doing shows. For the second half of 2020 and all of 2021, I did shows all over the southeast. I went to Key West twice, traveled to Atlanta almost every weekend, and slept in my car just to play shows. At the beginning of 2022, I decided to take a break from shows so I could be home with my dogs and continue to craft songs for my first album. I'm currently working on finishing up that album and releasing content consistently to stay engaged with my fans. Photo provided by artist MaM : If you could describe who you are at your core, how would you do that? TU : At my core, I'm a lover and a curious child that oohs and aahs at all the wonderful things in life. For some, it takes a lot to be happy, but for me, just watching how beautiful a tree is when it sways or hearing how elegant a bird sings is enough for me. I have ambitions, and I'm passionate about my craft and about people leading lives they are truly satisfied with. I've studied a lot of Buddhism and eastern philosophy, and I've learned that life is made up of our perceptions and thoughts. No matter what you are going through, you can always find beauty and peace within. MaM : True dat! What a great outlook. So, you're both an artist and a producer. Tell us about that, and which came first. TU : I pretty much started doing both at the same time. When I was a kid, I would sing along to Elvis’s songs and 90’s / early 2000’s R&B. When I was 12, I started writing poetry and rap verses over Tupac’s songs. I soon fell in love with writing. I started learning guitar and piano at the age of 14 and by 15, I decided I wanted to be a rapper/producer and started learning as much as I [could] from books I found or that were given to me. The first song I ever made [was recorded] on an old Yamaha keyboard that allowed up to five tracks of recording. I would play the full length of each part of the song because it didn't have the capability to loop. I then played the beat and recorded it with the microphone on my MP3 player, [then] I connected my MP3 player to my computer and transferred the recording of the beat. I remember I had this crappy headset with a microphone on it. I used that to record the vocals and then went into Adobe Audition and lined the vocals up with the beat. And that was how I made my first song. As an artist, I see myself as someone that just likes to bring ideas to life. I've always had a creative mind. I've just always been on the search for tools that let me manifest that into reality. As a producer, it's pretty much the same. I'll take ideas that are merely skeletons and create a whole village out of it. MaM : Have you always had musical talent? TU : I haven't really always had musical talent. I learned [that] through passion and curiosity. But I've always loved music. It's always been at the forefront of everything for me. Even as a four- or five-year-old kid, I was drawn to music for some reason. I was always watching music videos or listening to what my siblings and parents were listening to. MaM : What made you slide into producing as well? TU : I've just always been a DIY type of person. So, naturally I just wanted to involve myself with every step of the process of making music. MaM : What instruments do you play? And tell us about your singing/rapping. From where does your sound originate? TU : I mostly play piano and guitar. I can also work my way around a sampler and drum machine. I'm pretty well versed in engineering, [and] I love working on analog consoles and getting my hands on actual gear, but most of the engineering work I do is in the box, meaning I mainly just use digital plug-ins that emulate real-life gear. Photo provided by artist MaM : Who would you cite as your influences? TU : Musically, my influences have always been Tupac, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, John Mayer, Bon Iver, and just a bunch of random bands and artists that my family grew up listening to. MaM : Do you have any albums or singles currently out or coming out soon? TU : I am currently working on my first album, but instead of releasing it all at once, I'm releasing one song at a time like how TV shows release an episode at a time. I plan on having some type of visual representation for each song as well. MaM : Right on. Did you have any singles drop in 2022? TU : ‘Right Thing’ released last year. It’s about being in a place out of comfort but not happiness … realizing you’re not happy in that place, but it’s just easier to stay. So, it’s about that and making the decision to let it go and move on. Because that’s the right thing to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q0wN-dq1as MaM : Have you released anything this year? TU : [Earlier this year], I released ‘Pranayama.’ It’s about learning to breathe—truly breathe—and just accept events in your life. Whether they are positive or negative depends on your perception of them. You can find positive in negative and vice versa. Learning healthy ways to deal with hardships is very important. It’s so easy to fall into the deep end, but if you take some time to learn techniques, such as meditation and pranayama (Sanskrit for breathwork) , you end up growing into a strong and peaceful being that doesn’t easily get defeated by its demons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQCW9qpZKo0 MaM : Are these songs on the same album? TU : At this moment, both songs are singles in their own space but will eventually be a part of an album. The details on that will be revealed later. MaM : Any live shows? TU : I don't currently have any live shows booked, but I am working on getting a band together to tour for the album. MaM : What's the overall message in your music for people? TU : To me, music has always been therapy. When I go through things, I always turn to music to [guide] me. It started as just listening but then grew into writing music as therapy. So, I aim for my music to be a voice for those that feel like they don't have one, a shoulder to lean on, and a message to inspire. My music is relatable and very personal. I try to be very transparent in my lyrics. I also talk about things that could possibly help others lead better lives, mindsets to use as tools to make it through this rough experience of life. And there you have it, people. This kid is a fighter who has some talent and a clear vision of what he wants and where he’s headed with his music. We highly recommend checking out his carefully constructed beats full of premium quality instrumentals and heartfelt song lyrics. Before you know it, they’ll snag hold of you and have you listening on repeat while you do whatever it is you do with your time. Visit Tyler’s Linktr.ee for more music, videos, and links to his social media. *photos and video 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

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

A Classic Sound and Vibe < Back They Bring the Party: Von Mons Nicole Brice Mar 21, 2023 Share A Classic Sound and Vibe Sometimes, my music tastes can be a bit different than the norm, and I like to reminisce on the good ole days with some nostalgic sounding rock ‘n’ roll, so it’s quite fitting that I would stumble upon this next band, which I’ll now introduce to you. Von Mons are a four-piece band hailing from New Jersey , whose sound exemplifies what a party in the 60s should sound like . The guitars have a surf vibe to them, and the vocals are distorted just enough to sound like an old-school 45 that has been played one too many times. For a truly throwback listening experience, Von Mons music is best enjoyed loud, and if you happen to be near a beach, even better! Pull out that beach blanket, put the boombox down, and crank it up! Photo provided by band I genuinely wish I could pinpoint their sound and compare it, but I just can’t. Sure, there are hints here and there of Tom Petty , The Cramps , The Kinks , The Troggs , and even a little Herman’s Hermits , but when you really try to categorize or even compare them, you just can’t. These guys are unique and refreshing. Their sound is one that is missing these days amongst the clutter that has become rock music. One could even say their music would be the perfect soundtrack to a Quentin Tarantino movie. In the end, though, they are truly just a funky mash-up of underground pop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO1wAEAC9uI So, who, exactly, are Von Mons ? credit: Jeff Crespi Well, in a nutshell, they are Cory Williams (vocals, guitar), Tyler Kolling (drums, vocals), Brian Manser (lead guitar), and Casey Estelle (bass, vocals). Releases include Von Mons (2017) and Von Mons 2 (2020). All music can be found via the various streaming platforms and on YouTube . These guys are so much fun, they’ll make your head spin. I reached out to the band recently to gain a little more insight into what makes them so distinctive and was able to connect with Tyler Kolling , the drummer. Here’s what he had to say. MaM : What year did the band form and what inspired the formation? Give me a little band history if you don’t mind. TK : The band originally formed back in 2012. Sleepy (Cory) and I (Ty) were working at a bar in Asbury Park . We had a lot in common and bonded over our similar interests in music. We would always talk about playing together. We both didn’t really know what we were doing—still don’t, really—but [we] both had an interest in writing and performing music. Sleepy knew another dude named Sean that was really good at playing guitar. I guess you could say this was the first line up of the band: Sleepy on keys and rhythm guitar, me on drums, and Sean on lead. All of us singing. We played like that for a while, mainly in Sean ’s garage or at Ty ’s mom’s house. After a bit, we started taking it more seriously. We added Casey on bass and started playing gigs. Those early days were pretty wild and sloppy. Still are but just differently. Over the years we have had a couple line-up changes. Ty took a break for a bit and Sean moved to Atlanta . Shawna Grabowski from Late Waves filled in on drums for a bit. She rips. Corey Frank filled in on lead guitar for a bit—also a ripper. Ty came back and we added Brian on guitar full time. That’s really where we are at now. Cory “Sleepy” Williams on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Ty Kolling on drums and backing vocals, Casey Estelle on bass and backing vocals, and Brian Manser on lead guitar. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : How would you describe your music influences for your sound? TK : All of us grew up in the area surrounding Asbury Park . There was this radio station 1410AM Golden Oldies that played all the platters that mattered from back in the day … all the blasts from the past. We all grew up listening to that station, so it would be impossible to deny that as an influence. Other influences are stuff that our parents and siblings played when we were growing up—everything from Elvis and Buddy Holly to the Grateful Dead to Crass and the Ramones . Also, growing up near the beach for sure adds a bit of a surfy vibe to anything we do. Obviously, the garage rock groups of the 60s are a huge influence as well. If you listen to the garage/punk compilations of ‘ Nuggets ,’ ‘ Pebbles ,’ or ‘ Back from the Grave ,’ you will hear a lot of stuff we rip off. MaM : Any new music being recorded currently? When can we expect a new album? TK : We recently just finished our latest record called “ Shakin’ with VON MONS .” We recorded it in Brian ’s basement with Brian at the controls and the kids running around. It’s going to be released within the next couple of months. We are just working out a record release party and some last-minute art stuff. Follow our Instagram @vonmons for more info . We are really proud of this record. As we have said before, we are still on this adventure of figuring out how to make music. We feel like we are really starting to crack the code with this one. It’s a lot of fun. Not to say that the first two records weren’t, [but] we are just figuring out and refining our voice a bit more. Fourth record will follow shortly after this one. Recording for that starts soon. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Take us through the creative process. How do you come up with songs? TK : We usually write music by bringing an idea to band practice. That idea could be as simple as a song title or a progression or a little lick of a song, OR that idea could be a fully realized song. That idea could be somewhere in between those examples. Whatevers. Anyways, the idea gets brought to the group and we all flesh it out and put our input into it. Then we learn it and mess it up when we play it out live. It’s a blast. We all submit ideas, but I would say the majority of them come from Sleepy . He’s a hit-making machine. MaM : What music or things around you are inspiring you to create these days? TK : Anything and everything. We hear, see, feel, or experience something and try to boil it down to a simple 2:30-long bopper. Hope our fun comes through to the listener. That’s our biggest challenge when recording—capturing our fun feeling. We really want the listener to experience that above all. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Have there been any notable shows you have played and why? TK : Oh man. There’s been a bunch of great shows over the years. We love playing local gigs with friend bands. There’s also been some “bigger” gigs with touring bands that have been memorable and a lot of fun. Out of town shows with Todd-O-Phonic are always a blast. We are really just grateful that people wanna hear what we make. We have a lot of fun playing. Without people coming out to see our shows, that wouldn’t be possible. The best shows are really the ones where the crowd is engaged and there is that give and take between us and the crowd. We really dig it. We are just really appreciative for those early gigs, cuz [sic] we stunk, but people kept coming out and having a good time. That meant we kept getting more shows. We got better. Not much better, but hey, we couldn’t get much worse! credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : Love your “fuzz” sound with the guitar! What brand of instrument is used? Also, too, what pedals do you use to achieve your sound? TK : Sleepy plays a Fender Mustang with some simple Overdrive pedals and lets it rip. Brian is getting this custom handmade guitar made by his brother-in-law and Petillo guitars ; it’s a total frankenfreak of everything awesome. His pedals are always moving around and switching in and out. He usually centers them around a simple Overdrive pedal as well, though … cranks it and lets it rip. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : With all you currently have going on, what are your aspirations for the future? TK : We always joke around that being a true garage rock act means that we play music for a while, make a bunch of recordings, and then disappear, only to have our music rediscovered 40 or 50 years later and re-released, prompting us to go on tour in our mid-sixties and totally blow minds. More realistically though? We will just continue to have fun and make music we think is cool. Hopefully the crowds dig it and nice people like you keep taking interest in us. To experience all this is Von Mons, hit one of the links below! VON MONS (@vonmons) • Instagram photos and videos Stream Von Mons music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud Von Mons | Facebook Von Mons Von Mons | Spotify ‎Von Mons on Apple Music Von Mons on TIDAL VON MONS - Lyrics, Playlists & Videos | Shazam Von Mons - YouTube Thank you to Jeff Crespi for the photos! 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 Got something you’d like us to listen to? Hit us up! Send an email to the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The music of Baquenne is diverse and intricately constructed < Back Baquenne: Soothing, Ethereal Music Nicole Brice Jul 31, 2023 Share The music of Baquenne is diverse and intricately constructed Soothing, laid-back, feel-good music with upbeat vocals, catchy hooks, and ethereal guitar sounds: That’s the music of Baquenne . A band from Asbury Park, New Jersey , drawing inspiration from classic rock to 90's alt rock, the band is comprised of Liam Moroney on lead vocals, Eric Rudic on guitar, Chad Sabo on bass, and Santo Rizzolo on drums. Baquenne’s music reminds me of the tunes you would hear as a backdrop to a film about being at the fair on the boardwalk while enjoying ice cream on a beautiful, bright sunny day. From the howling guitars on ' Mountain #1 ,' which are soothing and evoke memories of playing outside as a child, to the stomping intro on ' Baby You’re Mine ,' which features a rhythmic opening building to a strong chorus of loud guitars and danceable beats, this band has something for everyone in terms of musical diversity: They’re poppy, they’re fun, and their music is just plain good. credit: Jeff Crespi Another track of theirs, ' Dead ,' is a guitar-infused slow jam with introspective lyrics that calm you and sounds like the perfect soundtrack to taking a drive down country roads with the windows down and your hand waving in and out of the breeze as you cruise along. And, Liam ’s vocals are soft and mellow and have just the right amount of intensity for songs intricately constructed about life and loss. Hauntingly reminiscent of Brendan B. Brown of Wheatus , Liam Moroney has the perfect voice to sing alt-rock, and I truly enjoy listening to him. The band began during the pandemic and has just begun with the guys continually writing and recording material as well as playing shows. Currently, their catalog consists of five singles available via Apple Music and Spotify with clever album art for each single released. The cover is nothing more than a simple band logo against a backdrop of a solid color that varies with each release ala the style of Weezer . If you remember, Weezer has done the same album art for several releases but with each one showing a different color with the guys wearing different outfits and looking just slightly different. It is pure brilliance in its simplicity and it’s clever branding, too. credit: Jeff Crespi A quick search on YouTube pulls up Baquenne ’s video for “ This is Life ”, a song that begins with a mellow opening only to build to grungy guitar fuzz and visuals of Liam driving in the car, playing guitar on a bench in the snow, with Eric lingering nearby in a covered bus stop. The guys look like they’re freezing, but with all the winter gear they’re sporting, I’m sure they did just fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDJxTM_Mgm0 To see more of the band, check out, “ Mountain #1 ”, which is a performance vid showing the band in action. I really dug this song, and I think you will, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZRqu2vuKzk A friend turned me on to Baquenne ’s music and I’ve been a fan ever since, so I wanted to share them with you, the readers of Mixed Alt Mag , so you could add another band to your rotation of tunage. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Liam and Eric at length and these guys are humble, fun, and down to earth. I’ve included the answers to a couple of questions that were thrown their way so check it out. Baquenne is creating music that is different, quirky, and just plain enjoyable. I have a feeling we’ll be listening to their music for many more years to come. MaM : Where did the band name come from? It’s so unique! Liam : So, the short answer is we just like the way the name looks. It’s not a real word as you know. And it came about during the mixing of one of our songs. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : When is the new single coming out or when can we expect new music? Liam : We are working really hard to have a single out by mid-September with an EP to follow shortly after. We’re putting the finishing touches on those tracks now. MaM : If you could share the stage with any current band, who would it be? Liam : As far as sharing the stage, quite frankly the list is endless. There are many bands that are putting on great shows and we’re always trying to create a fun atmosphere during our live set. We would love the play with bands like the Pixies and Weezer , who both are coming to our area in the near future. credit: Jeff Crespi MaM : What are the future aspirations for the band? Liam : Since this band is relatively new our immediate goals are to really keep creating and spreading the word. We want to play to new audiences and take this thing as far as we can. To experience Baquenne ’s music for yourself, hit one of the links below! We’re certain you’ll be adding their music to your collection after engrossing yourself in their tunes! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@baquenne9467 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baquenne/ Instagram: @baquenne • Instagram photos and videos Spotify: Baquenne | Spotify Apple Music: Baquenne 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 loves discovering new music. Got something you think she’d like? Hit her up at the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. < Back Shawn Franklin: Music Producer Extraordinaire Nicole Brice Oct 2, 2023 Share Shawn Franklin redefines the music production landscape with his top-notch restorations and collaborations. Often in music entertainment, we heavily focus on those in the foreground— the artists and musicians —but we don’t focus on the talent behind the scenes delicately tweaking and fine-tuning songs and albums, making sure everything is perfect. In the dynamic world of music production, some individuals stand out because of their sheer talent, versatility, and ability to add a distinct touch to all they lay their eyes, ears, and hands on. Shawn Franklin is one of those people who stand out in the music production crowd. With artistry that spans many mediums, Shawn has solidified his place among the production elite with various projects spanning well over a decade. With over 23 years of experience in sound engineering and performing with his band, The Scallions, Shawn’s true specialty is audio restoration and re-mastering new and classic material. Photo provided by artist Franklin has worked on music for Anthrax , Stone Deep , Public Enemy , Chuck D , Chuck Mosley , Daddy O , Dirty Rotten Imbeciles , Prophets of Rage , Renaldo & the Loaf , The Residents , The Mentors , and many others. What started as pure love and enthusiasm for the music that inspired him as a kid became an innate understanding of the intricacies of music, allowing him to turn a lifelong dream into a reality, and he currently shows no signs of slowing down. Shawn Franklin has an uncanny ability to focus on sounds to determine how and where they need to be tweaked for a crisp, clean restoration. Born and raised in a musically inclined family, Shawn developed an affinity for music at a young age, eventually learning to play the drums. “My brother is four years older than me … and he played guitar. I wanted to play the drums, and before I got a drum kit, I would play on coffee cans. I’d play with pencils as my sticks and then for cymbals, I’d have the coffee cans upside down for the tin part. I would fill the center part with pennies for the snare,” he recalls. A young Shawn Franklin - photo provided by artist His upbringing laid the foundation for his future success, as he immersed himself in a vast range of musical styles from metal to hip-hop and everywhere in between. After discovering Kiss’ album Hotter than Hell , Franklin’s passion for music grew exponentially, and during his teenage years, he was led to explore the makings of what goes into a spectacular recording. “My brother heard ‘Calling Dr. Love’ from Kiss on the radio in ’76 … I think I was four years old … and then I heard it and we both loved the song. We got the 45 and had no clue what they looked like or anything like that. Just hearing that song and loving that song and then discovering everything they did image-wise, … I mean, that was just like icing on the cake.” As Shawn’s music tastes began to expand, so did his record collection, and once he discovered the band The Residents , he was hooked. The Residents would play a huge part in Shawn’s life later, so this discovery was fortuitous. With many other bands and musicians influencing him, such as The Beach Boys , Jefferson Starship , and The Beatles , Franklin was eventually led into the world of hip-hop when he discovered breakdancing . Shawn Franklin getting an autograph from Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys - circa 1998 - photo provided by artist “It was the summer of 1984,” says Shawn, “my friend started [dancing] doing the worm one day, and I had no clue what it was. I rented Breakin’ and I thought the movie was horrible but cool because it got me into the music. It had this street element … this energy.” Franklin’s love for hip-hop would continue to grow, and over the years, he would go on to discover many influential artists from the time, such as Kurtis Blow , Boogie Down Productions , The Beastie Boys , Public Enemy , and KRS-One . “I heard ‘ South Bronx ’ by Boogie Down Productions in 1986 and I had never heard anything like it. The little horn stabs and everything just blew my mind.” Franklin’s career with music would soon take a dramatic turn—one that would start to shape his destiny. In 1990 , Shawn and his brother Mike began making music as The Scallions . Described as “ Avant-Garde Power Pop ” and influenced by San Francisco cult giants The Residents , Mike and Shawn started shaping their sound. Mike and Shawn Franklin aka The Scallions - photo provided by artist In 1999 , the band began shopping material around when they hooked up with Tom Timony , a former owner of The Residents label, Ralph Records . In the year 2000, they put out their first commercially released album, Mud Pie , and following its release the album was promoted with interviews, reviews, and radio play. In 2001 , Tom’s label closed and left Shawn and Mike looking for a new home for their music. It was around this time Franklin reached out to Chuck D from Public Enemy via e-mail after obtaining his e-mail address on an online message board. After e-mailing him, Shawn met him in person at a lecture held on the campus of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. where Chuck acknowledged he had received the copy of ' Gladys ' that Shawn had sent over. "He listened to the song and really liked it and that was it.” The Scallions In 2002 , the band signed with Chuck D’s label, SLAMjamz , and was asked to open for a few shows with Public Enemy in Massachusetts. “He told me, ‘You guys are different’, and that was that.” The year 2006 saw The Scallions release their album Agony Through Ceremony as part of a CD/DVD combo on Chuck D’s label. From there, Shawn Franklin and Chuck D would spark a professional friendship that led to various other projects outside of his band that continues to this day, with Franklin currently producing daily segments for Chuck D’s RAPstation radio network called “ This Day in Hip Hop History ”. Chuck D and Shawn Franklin - photo provided by artist One of the significant factors that sets Shawn Franklin apart is his remarkable versatility and after discovering he had a knack for restoring audio in a complex way , he began to experiment and push creative boundaries resulting in captivating and refreshing sounds. Of his early remastering days, Franklin says, “In the early 2000’s, I had been collecting bootlegs forever, and I was always zoning in on certain aspects of the recordings: ‘This one has got a lot of noise,’ and ‘This one could use a tweak here,’ and I remember thinking, ‘I wish I could clean this stuff up and restore these.’ The technology was not there yet, but I had a friend turn me on to some software that was incredible for the time. It was like a nuclear bomb went off over my head.” After discovering his secret weapon software, which he did not disclose the name of because it is his secret weapon, Shawn was able to start playing with audio. “I really started cutting my teeth, fixing these bootlegs,” Franklin said. “I really got into it … but I didn’t have any ambitions to be doing audio professionally.” Those first moments of tweaking audio for bootlegs began to set the stage for what was to come. “So, I became friends with Renaldo from Renaldo and the Loaf, and so, as the story progresses … around 2014, Brian, who is Renaldo, was taking a trip out to the United States where he had plans to stay at my house. There was this album, ‘Title in Limbo’ by The Residents, in collaboration with Renaldo and the Loaf. When the album was released on CD, some of the songs faded in, and it was horrible. Prior to Brian coming here, I was telling him about it, and he was like, ‘I have a mix down.’ He’s like, ‘Maybe you can fix it up and restore this album.’ So, I did and matched everything up EQ-wise and he flipped out over it.” That project then led to Shawn doing restoration professionally because the restored album was released worldwide. Title in Limbo by The Residents and Renaldo & The Loaf “Public Enemy is one of my favorite rap bands worldwide. Two friends and I, who coincidentally worked for Chuck, had this idea of making a comprehensive cohesive product of every single A side and B side from all their seven-inch, 12-inch, and CD singles. So, we did this whole thing and we presented it to the Public Enemy squad in 2014. Chuck, at this point, was like, ‘You know, you guys really should start a production team,’ and we were all like, ‘Hmmm … let’s do it. Let’s do this professionally.’” They decided to call their production team TDX , which stands for The Definitive Xperience. “We had all these plans of doing all kinds of reissues from bands,” says Franklin . From there, Shawn and his team embarked on a whirlwind career of numerous opportunities. Shawn Franklin’s reputation for excellence and his exceptional skills have attracted some of the most prominent names in the music industry and his collaborative works have earned him the trust and respect of many established artists such as thrash metal pioneers Anthrax . “I had the idea to reach out to Charlie from Anthrax since Public Enemy had collaborated with them,” Franklin explains. “I ended up sending Charlie [Benante] a tweet because I wasn’t friends with him. I told him, ‘Hey, listen. I’ve been a huge fan of Anthrax since ’86 and I did a really fat remaster of Spreading the Disease . I really want you to hear it and I work for Chuck D.’ He got back to me and said he would love to hear it, so I sent him what I did, and he loved it.” From there, Franklin spoke on the phone with Charlie , developing a professional friendship that led to numerous collaborations. Shawn Franklin with Charlie Benante from Anthrax - photo provided by artist “He said, ‘I’m going to send you some songs that I love and I’m not going to tell you what I don’t like about them audio-wise, and I want to see what you would do.’ I’m thinking, ‘Well, I’m just gonna trust my ears and see what I come up with.’ So, I did that and sent him samples of before and after. I didn’t hear anything for a while until one day, I was playing drums and my phone started blowing up. I look down at my phone to see Charlie messaging me and telling me that I ‘killed it.’” After successfully re-mastering those first few tracks, Shawn Franklin was sent more material that eventually led to him editing, assembling, and sequencing the Spreading the Disease 30th Anniversary album and the State of Euphoria deluxe album for Universal/Megaforce Records . Those projects then led to numerous other projects and collaborations with Anthrax and the professional relationship continues to this day. Remastered by Shawn Franklin Beyond his individual accomplishments, Shawn Franklin has had a transformative impact on the music production landscape by recognizing the importance of embracing technological advancements and utilizing innovative techniques to shape and enhance the soundscape of his creative projects. When asked about some of his other projects outside of Public Enemy and Anthrax, he said, “Working with Chuck Mosley from Faith No More, God rest his soul, was just incredible. I think that me being a fan of the music helps in my situation because knowing the catalog and the work makes it more personal.” He goes on to say, “It’s like saying, ‘Hey, this guy loves our stuff but can also deliver the goods audio-wise,’ you know?” In 2016 , Franklin was asked to master three songs for DJ Lord for the 2016 Make America Rage Again tour and says of the experience, “Chuck had an assistant named Kate. She came to me one day and said, ‘DJ Lord needs three songs mastered … instrumental versions.’ So, I didn’t even think anything of it and told them, ‘Let’s go!’” Credit: Green Left From there, Shawn went on to do the tracks with no problems and recalled the moment he got to experience his work firsthand live. “I’m at Mohegan Sun Arena watching the Prophets of Rage show and it’s going along, and ‘Bring the Noise’ starts when it dawns on me that this was what I had mastered for them. I look around the arena and it’s sold out. It’s packed. I’m watching people lose their minds to the music and I’m thinking, ‘I worked on this.’” As the music industry continues to evolve, Shawn Franklin remains relentless in his pursuit of excellence. While continuing to collaborate with renowned artists, Franklin strives to inspire others to follow their dreams and explore their creative potential. His journey from humble beginnings to working for Chuck D is a testament to his unwavering passion, exceptional talent, and commitment to musical quality. Through his versatility and groundbreaking production style, Franklin has redefined the music production landscape and left an indelible mark on the industry. As the music world eagerly awaits his next move, there is no doubt that Shawn Franklin’s influence will continue to shape the future of music production for years to come. To learn more about Shawn and his work, visit one of the sites below: Website: TDX: The Definitive Xperience (defexperience.com) The Scallions: The Scallions | blocGLOBAL Independent Record Label | Buy, download and listen to music online (blocsonic.com) Facebook (The Scallions): The Scallions (facebook.com) Rapstation Radio: Rapstation - Home 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

How a local Louisiana comedian found his craft in laughter to help overcome anxiety. < Back Don’t Freak Out! It’s Just Jeff Vance, Everybody! Kimberly Bryant Jan 28, 2025 Share How a local Louisiana comedian found his craft in laughter to help overcome anxiety. I’ve known Jeff Vance for a long time. We go back to… dang, okay, definitely before 2010; I can tell you that much when we both worked together at a call center slinging “knock-your-socks-off” service to the hundreds of callers we fielded daily. But the one thing that stood out the most to me about him, like a shiny new nail peeking out of some plywood (fun analogy, right? —I tried), was that he was a DJ in his free time. The everyday nine-to-five grind of the monotonous routine is unentertaining to me… but that was! Very! You see, but that still wasn’t quite it. Jeff was hilarious. I remember purposely intersecting him in the hallways to see what he would say to make me laugh so loud that I would irritate my co-workers. For me to do that, you have to have a gift. For me to seek talent, it’s because I see talent. So, I’ve always felt like Jeff would be on a stage somewhere, if not on television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIxR9Um6lws Fast forward to many years later, and I’m still tracking Jeff’s moves on social media to see that he’s doing it. He found his way into the entertainment industry through acting—via theater, then dinner theater eventually became comedy. That happened when Vance conversed with a fellow actor one evening and figured another stage wouldn’t hurt at all. But one thing Jeff could tell you is that, in the beginning, it wasn’t exactly a King Cakewalk; it was tough. Sometimes, the comedian was met with comments such as “Please quit comedy and go back to the grocery store,” he tells me. At the same time, we munch on cheese and laugh while filming The Pop Culture Green Room podcast episode at Rind Specialty Cheese and More in Hammond, Louisiana (if you’re in town, GO!). But that didn’t last long. Soon, the jitters would simmer down, and he became more comfortable. But as soon as it got his groove, life happened. He quit comedy in 2009, raised his kids, and returned to comedy when COVID hit… and Lunchbox Comedy was born. Credit: Facebook In 2022, Jeff began to rally the troops, consisting of his comedy friends. But the big challenge was luring them to a place called Gonzales, Louisiana . “Uh, where?” Yep, that’s what he was met with. Luckily, they trusted Jeff’s judgment, and the rest is history. Lunchbox Comedy has grown, currently touring Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana . Jeff still gets overwhelmed with how far he’s come. I was utterly shocked when I discovered something about him that I wasn’t unaware of. Didn’t even have a clue. It could’ve fooled me, yet it also made sense. He suffers from anxiety. Major anxiety. Credit: Kimberly Bryant I had gone with my friend Elizabeth and her mom to catch a show at Deadbeat Brewing in Hammond (also a fun spot) with Jeff opening for TanyaLee Davis . He began his routine so bravely while being blinded by the light, and one of the first things he said was that he has anxiety. It stopped me in my tracks. Then I thought about it. I’ve read before that comedy can be a coping still for anxiety. Maybe it’s because I figured a small laugh for yourself or at a friend, but I didn’t think about putting yourself on display. That’s… being vulnerable. That takes guts. I would’ve never known. Jeff doesn’t stop. He goes after what he wants, and he found his way into promoting Lunchbox Comedy on news circuits, on tour, on stage, and in front of people. In front of people. People staring. In silence. My heart was pounding, and my palms were getting clammy. That kind of anxiety… and comedy helps him through it. Credit: Facebook Jeff Vance knows that not every day will go the same, but he also pushes through the difficult moments in his career. He has his bag of tricks, bits, and improv handy. It helps that he has accredited comedians on his touring circuit, so knowing that the support is close by helps ease the anxiety. One of the main reasons I wanted to grab Jeff for this interview is his hard work ethic, his never quitting, and his showing that you can still go after your dreams even with anxiety. Not only is Jeff a comedian, he’s also a producer as well. He wears all kinds of hats, I tell ya! I’m sure I’m missing something else he does. And I have to say, I’m very proud of my friend. Be sure to check out anything that Jeff Vance does. You can thank me later. To learn more about Jeff Vance and Lunchbox Comedy: Lunchbox Comedy | Facebook Facebook Jeff Vance Comedy LA - Live Stand-Up Comedy in Louisiana *cover photo - Facebook www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link