The Staten Island Band Guy

Interview with Producer Joe Josh

2012-03-04T04:10:00.000-05:00

Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Joe Josh. I'm a banker by day and music producer by night.

What is your background in music?
I first played piano at 6 years old by ear...then starting learning how to read music. From there I began playing in recital's in front of hundreds for the next couple of years. I got bored fast playing other people's music...I wanted to make my own songs. At 20 years old I started learning how to take my piano skills and make songs using computers and programs. Now I'm working with more and more artists every day and the names are getting more and more famous.

How long have you been producing beats and what drives you to do so?
I've been producing beats for almost 8 years now. I started making House/Club music with VTone, a friend/ major DJ in the Club Scene. Everything I do drives me to make a song out of it...I listen to all genres of music, I think its all work of art.

Who are some of your influences in production?
Some of my influences are AraabMuzik, Timbaland, Dr Dre, Scott Storch, Ryan Leslie, and many more but those stick out the most. You can listen to a track and like it...but when u listen to a track and it gives u goosebumps and moves you–that's what I strive for in my music.

If you could produce for any well known rapper, who would it be and why?
I would want to work with every mainstream artist available but what really matters to me are the artists that have the talent to take our songs to the next level and put in the same amount of love, sweat and tears I put into my music.

What gear do you use?
I use an iMac and a M-Audio midi keyboard. On my iMac i have thousands of dollars of sounds, plugins and effects, but you never have enough. From there I will go to my studio where I can mix and master my beats.

Where do you hope to take your production work?
I want to hear my music on the radio, TV, and Internet. I want to have such an impact on music that people will automatically know when they are listen to a jOE jOSH production. I want to be surrounded by music, whatever it is!

Where do you see yourself in five years as far as music?
5 years from now I can see myself working with major artists in the game...helping the hip hop/rap genre come back to life. Bringing back the talent that this industry is missing.

Top 5 best rappers dead or alive?
Eminem, Biggie, Jay Z, Drake, Big Pun.

Anything else to add?
I do this because I love to do it and I'm going to continue making HIT after HIT. So either hop on for the ride or GET RUN THE F**K OVER!

Facebook
Youtube

Joe Josh is the newest member and official producer for the Broken Records Collective.

Wester Interview by Paul Marino

2012-02-29T20:24:00.000-05:00

The local music scene of Staten Island has a never ending flow of sound coming from its home shores. While there is a rather large collection of Hardcore bands saturating the isle there is at least one band that alters the formula and throws a melodic-indie twist on their own version of it. The band Wester has gone through more than one name change but every member has stayed within the band, all since their start in a much larger band, Super Happy Fun Band (now defunct). Band-mates Steven Bacas, Christopher Peters, Michael Scionti, and Jason Roschbach wanted more out of their music and came together to form the group Story, which stuck to more traditional Hardcore music.

After some time playing as Story the band changed their name to Sink You Fool, a shout out to a favorite movie of the artists (points to anyone who knows which film). Under this alias they wrote, composed, and covered a broad variation of Ska music, but late in 2010 the bands direction changed yet again and they became what we know now as Wester.

The band has stuck to it’s Melodic Hardcore mix to produce two EP’s; the first called, Freight in Limbo, released in 2011, and the second, Flux, coming out late 2012. Steve, the bands lead guitarist, described both EP’s as music driven by “relatable sadness.” Lead singer Jason compares some of his lyrics to the feeling of heartbreak, something he and many of us know all too well. Unable to comment on the EP was the bands drummer, Chris, and bass player, Mike. Though both were unable to attend the interview, Steve and Jason spoke on behalf of the absent members.

Wester compares themselves to bands like Brand New and Lifetime and hopes that with the release of Flux, playing shows through out the year, and accumulating fan support they can get signed onto a record label, which is most bands dream.

Steve had made it clear throughout the interview that he did not want to see this group “die out,” as he has seen of some of his past musical endeavors. The four piece wishes to tour within the coming months but said that nothing is currently planned. When asked why there were no definitive tour dates Wester explained that with all the band mates either attending college or working full time that it was becoming difficult to work around all their schedules. They did promise, however, that it would not affect their future in music and pledged to keep working with what they are given.

If you’re interested in Wester check out their music at www.reverbnation.com/WesterNY (which has their first EP available for your listening pleasure) and look for updates on their facebook page at www.facebook.com/WesterNY. Be on the look out for Wester as their album release gets closer and their vision of making it big moves forward.

'Still Not Heartless' by Eric D'Alessandro - Album Review

2012-02-28T15:54:00.001-05:00

Still Not Heartless is the first mixtape released by Staten Island artist/Youtube personality, Eric D'Alessandro.

For those subscribed to Eric's Youtube channel, ERIX FLIX, you have seen him make the slow evolution from funny shorts and skits, to hysterical hip-hop parodies, and now serious rap songs infused with pop hooks reminiscent of Drake or a Timberlake/T.I. mash-up.

With that being said, Still Not Heartless captures everything a first release should while avoiding the, "This is definitely his first album" kind of feel.

The mixtape is solid and has a raw feel almost like listening to a garageband's first recordings, and yet still shining through the fuzz.

The verses are clever, witty, and certainly meaningful while the choruses are catchy and sometimes filled with emotion and inspiring.

Topics range from past girlfriends, having fun in the club, to braggadocio laden proclamations every rapper needs, and reflections of finding a place and calling in the world.

The first track, "Closure," is an excellent lead off song and without a doubt the album's single. it features a big pop chorus over what is definitely the best beat on the album. This is the J.T. style song mentioned previously that will have the lyrics, "Baby Baby you can never hate me..." stuck in your head for a few days.

"New Hate" is a song that brings the listener to Eric's level as he confidently uses some clever writing to dismiss haters which he sings about over the chorus.

This next song goes hard so the title of "Go" was rather appropriate. Eric lets it loose this song and goes all out and comes real and raw over another great beat as he hits harder here than the rest of the album.

If Eric was recording this next song, "Everything I Need," in a full studio for an album, he would have another hit much in the same vein as "Closure." But what this song is missing in production certainly does not effect the quality of this R&B inspired tune.

(This video is the funny version he made featuring Drake. For the real version, click here)

Yet again the song features a good chorus over a solid beat. The real highlight of the track comes at the end with the overlapping vocals and harmonies with his pleas of, "I want you so bad" over and over until the finish.

In true YMCMB style, Eric takes this Weezy banger and puts his own twist on it. "Megaman Freestyle" sees him forgo some story telling and just lets him flex his lyrical muscle.

Over Wayne's playful laughs in the background Eric unleashes his punch line game with swag as he references pop culture and "flosses" on the track.

"Faded" transitions Eric into the confident and slightly cocky 21 year-old that inhabits all of us. The song broaches the adventures of being young and having a good time at the club while drinking too much and trying to pick up girls. If the song does happen to reach a DJ, the pairing would be perfect.

"This Isn't Me" slows the pace of the album and helps fit it into the next batch of songs.

The song looks back at past relationships and has Eric asking, "Why?" at times as he regrets some decisions and tries to move forward. The track shows him vulnerable for the first time and continues that lingering feeling over the almost reggae but still R&B chorus.

The next track takes the popular, "She Will," collaboration of Drake and Lil Wayne and watches Eric put his own twist on it. Every mixtape has at least one remix for the happening track of the moment and here's his.

Calling it, "New York Girls," Eric delivers with a rant that describes what is wrong with a lot of girls in this city (not all girls). Speaking from experience he describes certain instances in life as he has dealt with these "bad girls."

"It'll Be Alright" is another slow heartfelt song where he takes a reflective look into his own life and contemplates the meaning of it all. Eric talks about the importance of having a purpose and sings about persevering, "It's worth the fight..."

The instrumental is a soft piano ballad that is perfect for conveying the message of the song as he sees people around him succumb to drugs and other failures. For the second verse he brings out the sing-songy flow and talks about Jesus bringing him to Earth to fight back.

The final track, "Outro," is just that. It provides a little bit of contrast in closing by being just piano and vocals. Eric shows off a bit of his singing range here and hits a number of good harmonies in this passion filled ending.

Overall Still Not Heartless is a great introduction and first effort to Eric's growing online audience. There is a mix of everything on this mixtape and he is just getting started in his musical path.

Expect a lot of great things from Eric for the remainder of the year as he just teamed up with the Broken Records Collective, and be sure to come see him along with Process of Fusion, Freestyle Fam, Vinny Jett, and CiG on March 10th at the Lizard Lounge in Staten Island.

Listen to and download the whole album for free at bandcamp!

<a href="http://brokenrecordscollective.bandcamp.com/album/still-not-heartless">Still Not Heartless by Eric D'Alessandro</a>

www.youtube.com/EJD11190

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ERiX-FLiX/119293071431394?sk=wall

http://twitter.com/ericdalessandro
erixflix@gmail.com

Four Nights Gone Review of 'Crash and Burn EP'

2012-02-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

Local Staten Island band Four Nights Gone recently released their first EP, The Crash and Burn EP, and to no-one's surprise, they delivered just like they always do.

The band's signature sound is a combination of 2000s nu metal with hints of grunge and alternative throughout, sort of a mix between Three Days Grace and Papa Roach.

The first track, "Scared to Breath," opens the EP up strong. The changes in flow between the music and vocals, plus the mid-tempo speed give the song a "big" sound.

The title song, "Crash and Burn," is very suiting of the ep. It has a solid and catchy chorus and the mix of the gritty guitar matching the droning hook of, "I can't fake this, I won't crash and burn," which especially stands out at the end with the background screaming.

Next on the CD is, "The Message." This track has a heavy flow with dynamic instrumentation throughout. Again, the song has a strong hook and the verses prove to be very good to sing-along to as well.

"Despair," musically has a big sound with a powerful chorus. There is also a great guitar solo over the bridge. The song is the most rough around the edges, but at the same time keeps up the consistency of the rest of the ep.

Continuing the theme of great choruses, and perhaps fittingly enough, "My Last Call," closes out the album in a perfect way. This song is musically the best on the album and very reminiscent of Breaking Benjamin.

It has and up and down feel to it, and is definitely a single anywhere. The chants before the build a musical bridge are enjoyable and so is the layering of the double vocals at the end.

Overall The Crash and Burn EP, is a fantastic first effort for this band. They did an awesome job of crafting songs that were both easy to and fun to sing along to, and yet conveyed some meaning throughout the writing.

Four Nights Gone has a mainstream sound and is knocking on the doors of Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace as they try to prove they are the new guys in town.

Read their interview by Paul Marino here

www.facebook.com/FourNightsGone

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFourNightsGone
http://www.reverbnation.com/fournightsgone
fournightsgone.bandcamp.com

Big Update: Free music from the Collective and more!

2012-02-20T10:43:00.000-05:00

CIGCiG's first music video. "I Want to Go Back" off of Back Against the Wall. Filmed and directed by Jen Santori.Music Video : CIG I Wanna Go Back from Jennifer Santori on Vimeo.Download the track for free as well!Broken Records Collective RappersCheck out Freestyle Fam, CiG, Eric D'Alessandro, Vinny Jett, and Justin from POF's remix of "Stay Schemin."Download it for free here&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://brokenrecordscollective.bandcamp.com/track/stay-scheming-remix-by-brc"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Stay Scheming Remix by BRC by Broken Records Collective&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

FigureHead

Listen to and download a new track by FigureHead called "Accept the Change."

Process of Fusion

The band is now on iTunes, buy the album here!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/process-of-fusion/id502681045?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Also, support them at the Break Contest!

http://www.facebook.com/events/288660437867357/?ref=ts

Also be sure to check out, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taking-Steps-Be-The-Change/304219856292665?sk=wall&filter=1

Four Nights Gone Interview by Paul Marino

2012-02-17T16:24:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it takes a little persistence to get what you want. After running through a few changes as a band, Four Nights Gone, the hard rock/alternative metal players from Staten Island, New York have secured their niche in sound and are looking to run full steam ahead with their music blasting.

The foundation for the group started with band mates Damian LaRocco and Steven “Lobes” Romano playing under other band titles with a different guitarist and bassist. This singer/drummer combo felt as if their future in the industry was going nowhere until finding Imran Xhelili in September of 2010 for guitar, and Alex Basovskiy the following year, also in September, for bass. Almost directly after their replacement in the strings department the newly formed Four Nights Gone recorded two singles, “Crash and Burn” and “My Last Call” in studio. The success of these songs was immediate and their new EP containing both tracks has given the band a lot of forward momentum on the music scene.

While on my way to interview the band I listened to the aforementioned EP, titled Crash and Burn, released January 20th, 2012, and noticed similarities in play style with rock groups like Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace. This did not come as a surprise to me given that much of the band draws their inspiration from them as well as other artists that you would commonly associate with the genre of hard rock such as Chevelle, Staind, and Thrice. The instruments of the EP have a heavy edge surrounding them that coincide with the lyrics proclaiming uncertainty and loss throughout life. When asked about the recurring themes in the songs, singer Damian said that he vents about his own life and the stresses of it through the music. He and Steve also explained that the EP embodies the strength to “overcome hardships” and “become a better person.”

Moving away from the EP, I asked FNG what their plans were for the future and without hesitation they responded with talks of tour planning and dreams of turning music into a career. The plan going forth is to tour this upcoming summer on a grand road trip that starts in New York, runs all the way down to Florida, and then continues with more shows on the way back home. Unsigned, the band is hoping to open at multiple different venues along the way and get noticed. Every member of Four Nights Gone says that they want to get bigger and get signed; the dedication to their music is unwavering.

All seems to be on coarse for stardom; reinforcing this is their fan base, which Mr. LaRocco says “reaches out as far as Australia.” While an Australian tour seems a bit out of reach right now, Four Nights Gone’s clear determination to “make it” will give them the opportunity to tour further than just the east coast in the coming years. The band is heading out of the local scene for a bit though, with their recent booking for February 22nd , 2012 at New York City’s Hard Rock Café. The band is ecstatic to play this venue and say that they’d like to invite anyone and everyone to come and enjoy this free show.

After meeting with the members of Four Nights Gone I can once again say that it is a relief to watch talent rise above the sea of mediocrity. With the band playing their first show together at Dock Street’s The Battle of The Bands and making it to play at the well-known Starland Ballroom, the talent I speak of is pretty obvious.

If you’re interested in the band, check them out on their Facebook, where FNG will keep you updated on their progress as a group. They also have Bandcamp and Reverbnation pages up for you to tune into, and don’t forget about their Youtube page for videos of shows, songs, and other such shenanigans. These young men are aiming high for their success and keep pushing the envelope with their rock. They’ve come a long way in the less than two years they’ve been playing together and there’s no sign of a slow down. They won’t fade, and they will not crash and burn.

The Hard Rock Café is located at 1501 broadway New York, NY 10036
Dock Street is on 691 Bay Street of Staten Island New York, Staten Island 10304 and The Starland Ballroom is situated at 570 Jernee Mill Road Sayreville, NJ 08872

www.facebook.com/FourNightsGone
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFourNightsGone
http://www.reverbnation.com/fournightsgone
fournightsgone.bandcamp.com

Interview with Hip-Hop Producer and Model K. Scott

2012-02-12T03:20:00.001-05:00

Why stick with your name as a producer name and not come up with something different?
The Reason I stuck it out with my real name is because when I’m older I wouldn’t want to be know by some obnoxious nickname that'll be with me to the grave, also it’s more professional.

What inspired you to make beats, and is there a moment in your life when you said, "I must do this?"
I’ve always had a real love for music, it’s the basis to everyday life. Most people start the day with a song that puts them in a certain mood, and for me I grew up listening to a lot of reggae music so my mood was always relaxed. When I moved to America and got introduced to Hip-Hop music at age seven and was blown away by the contentious style of the artist that were out and it’s similarity to reggae music, I was instantly hooked.

Who are some producers you that influence you and if you could aspire to be like one who would it be?A lot of music producers inspire me, but one of my most influential musicians would have to be Swizz Beatz. Through his years within the music industry, he’s always been behind the scenes making hits and establishing power in the entertainment industry. Later on within my career I would love to be in the same sentence as the musical milestone Quincy Jones, I’ve got a long way to go.

''Serenity'' (Prod-K.Scott) Sample Clip from ♚K.Scott♚ on Vimeo.

Where do you draw your unique sounds and music from?
I draw my sound from the Native American people, the chants, the instruments and belief system that they bring their culture.

If you could make beats for one artist today who could really go well with your beats, who would it be?
The one artist I think would be perfect for my sound would have to be Drake, because his music symbolizes spirituality and with my rugged creative abilities mixed with his musical strengths we’ll make greatness.

What is some of the gear you use, and how long has it taken to you to get to this point now?
I’ve been making music since I was fourteen and I started with a program called Fruity Loops and then later on I was introduced to Ableton Live, it’s one the easiest programs to make music.

What do you plan to do with your music and where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years I aspire to evolve the hip-hop culture, and take my music global to inspire generations to be whoever and whatever they want to be in life.

You are also, model. Tell us a little about that.
Music and fashion has always been in the same realm when culture and art come into play, and modeling is a way that fans can interact with me on a artistic level.

Pros and cons of both, and how can they work hand in hand?
It's More exposure when you have a certain presence in the music and fashion industry, but when it comes down to business its always stressful when your in high demand.

''Night Air'' (Prod-K.Scott) Sample Clip from ♚K.Scott♚ on Vimeo.

http://kscottofficial.com/
Facebook
Vimeo

''Chief'' (Prod-K.Scott) Sample Clip...Sold# from ♚K.Scott♚ on Vimeo.

Independent Hip-Hop: Eric Sosa, Playdough, Cig and the Fam

2012-01-30T22:32:00.000-05:00

Hate by Eric Sosa

Antibiotic

Came Along Way Premiere

RoadDoggin

Broken Records Collective Hip-Hop Artists

CIG

Freestyle Fam

Process of Fusion 'Connections' Album Review by Paul Marino

2012-01-26T01:54:00.001-05:00

Process of Fusion – Connections EP Review
Written by Paul Marino

Progressive rock/rap group Process of Fusion is not afraid to experiment. With vocals comparable to Coheed & Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez along with rap that will remind the listener of Pre-Meteora Linkin Park, Process of Fusion boldly and successfully mixes two different and distinct singer’s voices into all their tracks. This melding of vocal styles, along with edgy and energized drums, bass, guitar and keys, is what sets Process of Fusion apart from many other bands on the market. Following the success of their first EP State of Mind, Process of Fusion has unleashed another EP into the music world titled Connections. Connections is a five song album featuring empowering lyrics about finding a place to belong, guitar riffs that flow with the mood, and even melodies not unlike that of the group God is an Astronaut.

The first song on the EP, “Moment of Clarity,” combines both vocals and rap with fast-paced drums and strings in a song that encourages making the most of life and living in the moment. Next up is “Aspire, Inspire, Expire,” which again perfectly has Singers Patrick Wakie and Justin Sarachik’s voices reflect each other. AIE picks up quickly and then slows itself down all the while talking about the paths of life and the challenges faced when travelling down them. “What Brought Us Here” scales down on the energy of the first two tracks, but keeps along with the messages of looking within yourself and finding where you belong. It is also worth noting that this song has a very strong, very powerful, guitar solo that stands up with any modern era rock ballad.

Fourth on the set list is the song “Connections,” which throws the listener back into the fast paced, stylized and intense sound of POF without feeling disconnected from the song prior. Again, the message of self-realization is apparent throughout. The final song on the EP, “Lights In The Sky,” continues the bands perfect blend of rap and rock with a hint of instrumentals similar to the previously mentioned God is An Astronaut. This song features the sound the listener is by now accustomed to and even throws in some group vocals at its close.

The album ends leaving listeners with the feeling of hope for your future. This album is recommended for anyone looking for a pick me up, someone looking for musical motivation, or anybody who is looking for more than what the media defines as rock nowadays. For more on Process of Fusion’s unique sound check out their Facebook and Twitter pages and be sure to wish them luck in their battle to get on the Bamboozle band roster. Voting for them probably wouldn’t hurt either.

<a href="http://processoffusion.bandcamp.com/album/connections-ep">Connections EP by Process of Fusion</a>

Strange Brew Interview by Paul Marino

2012-01-24T16:17:00.000-05:00

In a time that can arguably be called the Electronic Age of Music it is refreshing to see a group of young musicians leave the monotony of the mainstream and turn to rock as their major influence. Strange Brew is the self proclaimed “Funky Hard Rock” five-piece hailing from Staten Island, New York, with the stage presence and attitude to bring along a loyal fan base wherever they jam. With few “Brewpies” missing any performances and with packed out venues every show, it is hard to argue Strange Brew’s success. Between writing original lyrics and playing covers from the likes of Billy Joel, Avenged Sevenfold, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, with an album release in the summer of 2012, it is amazing how much the band has accomplished in the short time they have been together. Since their start in the summer of ’09, Strange Brew is an ever-evolving musical tour de’ force composed of Armand Lane as Lead Vocalist and Keys Player, Johnny Baldofsky and Mike D’Ambrosi each playing Guitar, Matt D’Ambrosi slapping the bass, and Justin Salud rounding out the band with his Drums.

I recently got to sit down with Strange Brew and talk to them about where they see their band going and what definitive plans they have for the future; I also got an inside look at how the band manages stage performances, practices, and produces their distinctive funking sound.

Prior to the interview Strange Brew was unsigned, working on their own dime and playing shows when they could, but as of January 18 they have been signed onto the Broken Records Collective music label. Armand Lane says, on behalf of the band, that “We’re incredibly excited to be part of this collaboration. We feel that it is a huge opportunity to be a part of something bigger than us…We can’t wait to start playing some shows with all the talent involved.” On top of this great news for the band, fans have gotten some exciting news about the aforementioned album release this summer. The band promised a full length 10 song album of original music and lyrics. The whole album is being recorded, mixed, and produced by Strange Brew but has yet to be titled.

I started the interview by asking how the band practiced on their down time and how they went about writing their original songs. Strange Brew began by saying that “what starts as a practice will turn into a 2-3 hour jam session.” For their original song and lyric writing the band says that usually a member will approach the band with a sample of music (what guitarists Mike and Johnny did with what eventually became Strange Brew’s new single “Born To Please”), then work around the sound and churn out the bands next hit.

Speaking of their new single, “Born to Please” was first showcased during the Friday the 13^th show at the Bitter End in Manhattan, New York. This show has been Strange Brew’s most successful to date with the band bringing in just under a hundred people for their set. Lyrically the song is suggestive and flaunts it throughout; it was the perfect way to rally the crowd and get them pumped up for the next hour of Brewery. Strange Brew played flawlessly the whole show and got through every song on their set list, even after a broken kick pedal incident in which Justin kicked the bass drum for a full song before another band graciously let them use theirs. Justin said, in regards to their music and how they perform live, that “Sixty percent is focused towards music. The rest is recovery,” a good analogy for their most recent show.

Strange Brew has natural talent with an ability to please and there is no sign of a slowdown; they have active accounts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter that receive constant updates. For more information on the band and to try out their funky spin on hard rock go to each website’s respective page and end it with a /StrangeBrewNY (ex. Youtube.com/StrangeBrewNY).

You can also email the band at StrangeBrewRocks@ymail.com. At the close of the interview the band wanted to give a shout out to Airistotle, The Brew Crew, The Brewpies, and all the other friends and family that have supported them through their career in music. They would also like to thank The Bitter End for inviting them to their stage and allowing them more than a full hour of play time. Be ready for a potential summer tour with their new label-mates, prepare for the full album release, and brush up on your Brew by visiting their web pages. The last thing Armand Lane had to say before the end of the interview was “Expect us.” Don’t worry Armand, we will not forget.

http://www.facebook.com/StrangeBrewNY

Update - Music, links, and Broken Records Collective!

2012-01-21T19:04:00.002-05:00

Lets start off with the links

Just launched my Record Label, Broken Records Collective. Please follow all the links, and help me get the word out.

Created by Kristen Solis

http://www.facebook.com/BrokenRecordsCollective
https://twitter.com/#!/BR_Collective
http://brokenrecordscollective.bandcamp.com/ - MUSIC PAGE

Check out three of our rappers videos!

Eric D'Alessandro "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3"

CiG "No Church in the Wild & Stay Scheming Freestyle"

SiK B of Process of Fusion "Bonfire Remix"

Also, be sure to like Broken Records Photography

K SCOTT
K Scott has some nasty beats he wants to show you all, check them out here.

PROCESS OF FUSION
Process of Fusion had their album, Connections, reviewed by the Christian Music Review Blog. Read that here.

Also, check out the photos from their show at The Stone Pony, taken by photographer Laura DeSantis Olsson.
http://www.ldophoto.net/data/web/processoffusionstonepony/index.html

SPREAD THE RUMOR...kinda

BACKSLASHES & BAD IDEAS/WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS

VERBATIM
Check them out on Facebook and listen to their first recorded song, "Desire & I."

FOUR NIGHTS GONE
Come to their album release show, more info here!

MUSIC AGAINST BULLYING
This show is very important! It is in memory of recent suicide victim Amanda Cummings. Please come out and support her friends and family.

More info here

RUNNING ON SWEETS BLOG
Read my girlfriend's blog on fitness and running here.
http://runningonsweets.blogspot.com/

XO
OX - Life I Live by RatherUniqueMusicGroup

JON SANTOS RECORDING
My band's producer is having a sick deal on recording. See below.

Number 150 - The Beginning

2012-01-12T18:30:00.000-05:00

Hello all and welcome to blog post 150!

I write to you today as someone who has spent the last two days home from work sick and has slept a combined 27 hours in two days (GLORIOUS!)

For this blog a numerical proportions I write to you as someone who is extremely overworked with many ideas and ventures going at once. However, I will not complain because I have brought it all upon myself and enjoy every bit of what I'm doing.

With that being said, I encourage bands and artists of all kinds to continue to send me stuff to post about as well as inquiries as to getting on here and in my magazine Brokenrecordsonline.com.

Lastly, I would like to make an official announcement right here!

Over the last month or so I have been developing a label/promotions company out of my magazine and I feel like I have finally have the means and the right people in place to launch this thing. I have signed several local artists who you will all meet in time, and we will be taking over the Island. Here is the press release!

THE BROKEN RECORDS COLLECTIVE

The Broken RecordsCollective is the newest brain child of Broken Records Magazine Editor-in-ChiefJustin Sarachik, and will be looking to take seven of Staten Island's very bestartist's in rock music and hip-hop and join them together for one common goal,success.

The concept is to create amanagement/promotions record label on Staten Island that holds true toeverything it promises and works exclusively with the groups to succeed as acollective.

At the start, the labelwill merge hip-hop and rock to create a powerhouse of talent that not onlyshowcases individuals, but also moves powerfully as a group to present a greatshow and experience for anyone involved.

The artist's have beenspecifically selected to compliment each other in order provide the bestresults. While mixing rap and rock is not a new concept, there will only be oneband that floats in the middle of both. The rest of the groups will be strictlyrap or rock, but at the same time unique to the collective as a whole.

TBRC will aim for two groupshows a month, one in the beginning and one in the end. In between these shows,smaller selections of the group will perform either a rock show or a rap showor any other show a band has an obligation to fulfill.

Proceeds from the showswill be split up between the artist's and the remainder will go back into thegroup to be used for promotion, merchandise, or whatever the collective needs.

Promotion for the groupwill come through Broken Records Magazine,www.Brokenrecordsonline.com,www.thesibandguy.blogspot.com,www.Offtangent.com,WSIA 88.9 Staten Island, Facebook and Twitter group pages, and the overallhustle and word of mouth of the parties involved.

Broken Records will providethe contacts and means of reaching out to record labels, publicist, and otherpublications in order to raise awareness in other places. A monthly pressrelease/newsletter will be sent out to blogs and music sites to inform theInternet world what is going on.

TBRC will be workinginternally to provide for itself jobs, whether it be recording, photography,videos, or promoters. The group will be a well-oiled machine, a community oftalent helping each other get to the next level.

Christian Rock Going Mainstream

2012-01-11T21:04:00.000-05:00

A recent report has been released about the current state of the music industry, and among the list of sub-genres to look out for was Christian rock.

The New York Times compiled the list, which included the "most promising options" for someone looking to escape regular "Top 40" music, and engage in a micro-genre of new music.

The article credited Christian hard rock band Skillet's, Awake, as being the longest running album on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart at 121 weeks.

Other Christian releases they tote are Sleeping Giant's, Kingdom Days in an Evil Age and Seventh Day Slumber's, The Anthem of Angels.

Christian Rock has come a long way and has encompassed every foreseeable genre of music from hardcore to gangster rap.
Some of the biggest bands of the early 90s were semi-Christian bands like Creed, Evanescence, and Lifehouse each scoring huge hits individually.

Semi-Christian puts the band in a category that promotes the music as for everyone, but suggests Christian and positive elements as some or most of the members are Christians.

Band's that are around now that fall in this category are: Paramore, Flyleaf, Thrice, and Family Force 5.

Sarah Baldini, an avid music fan, says she enjoys Christian music but also sees why some may stay away from it.

"Christian music has a tendency to be cheesy and simply unappealing to the secular audience and often even the Christian audience," she said. "I know that I have had periods of time where I would listen to only z100 [New York Radio Station] simply because of the variety in style of music. There are amazing Christian artists out there but there are certainly not as many options as there are in the secular genre."

Mike McNichol knows that some of the bands out there sneak in references about God that can be left up to the listener.

Referring to the band Thrice, he said, "Although he discusses themes he makes an effort to be vague about it so anybody can interpret his songs without needing religion.

He continued, "My favorite song [In Exile] is most likely about going to heaven but I pretend it means something else."

Recommended Christian Hard Rock Bands:

UnderOath (Melodic Metal/Screamo/Hardcore)
MxPx (Punk Rock)
Project 86 (Nu Metal)
Haste the Day (Hardcore)
Blindside (Nu Metal/Post Rock)
Comeback Kid (Hardcore Punk)
Thousand Foot Krutch (Rock/Punk)

Recommended Christian Hip-Hop:
TobyMac (Rap/Reggae/Pop)
Manafest (Rap/Punk)
KJ-52 (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Freestyle Fam (Lyrical Hip-Hop/Underground Rap)
Playdough (Underground Rap)
T-Bone (West Coast Hip-Hop/Mainstream Rap)
Lecrae (Southern Rap/Underground hip-Hop)

Original article by me from the Christian Post

Marc Martel: WInner of the Queen Extravaganza and Front Man of Downhere

2012-01-11T20:57:00.000-05:00

Exclusive interview with Marc Martel of the Christian rock band Downhere and winner of the Queen Extravaganza Contest.

The Christian Post: Where did you develop this passion for music when you were younger and who did you dream to be?
Marc Martel: Definitely my passion for music came from my mom. She is a piano player and a choir director at my church. My earliest memories of music and just really loving the sound of music itself was her playing the piano for me and my brother and sister at night as we were falling asleep at night, and she'd play Beethoven to us and I think that's where it all started to me. I ended up taking piano lessons at a really young age, I took like years of piano lessons and I always loved to sing.

My biggest influences when I was a kid – I listened to a lot of top 40 radio, so whatever the big artists were so like the mid 80s. I think of artists like George Michaels, but my biggest influence at that age was probably Keith Green. His passion and his piano playing and his singer was something that I always wanted to strive toward.

CP: You're also in the band Downhere, when you guys started why was it important for you to come to the U.S. as Canadians and how did that whole process of getting signed work out for you?
Martel: We started our band in college, at a college called Briar Cliff College in Saskatchewan. None of us are actually from Saskatchewan, but we kind of all met there and started there. We got signed to a record label in Nashville in 2001 and before that all came about we were all just planning on moving to Toronto or something and trying to make the best of it there and staying in Canada.

We never saw it as kind of a thing to do, to move to the states and when we got that offer from this big record label in Nashville we thought “Well this is a door that either God was opening for us” and we were very careful about it and very prayerful about it and after eight months of negotiating to make sure it was really worth it for us, we moved down in 2001 and that's when we kind of went full time.

CP: Where does the name Downhere come from?
Martel: The name Downhere comes from a song I wrote after a friend of mine died in college and it was kind of the first time I was dealing with loss and you know real mortality and it was a song of how down here on Earth we don't have the big picture. We rarely know why things happen and why God allows certain things, but it's a song of faith that God is in control and has a purpose for everything that happens in our lives. As hard as it is to believe at certain times.

Later on when we were looking for a band name we thought we wanted something that had a lot of layers of meaning. The name also means just being down here. When Christ was down here and the example he set for us as a way of life and trying to emulate that as much as possible. We want our music to be a soundtrack for down here and obviously our world views are Biblically based and obviously that's where our music is centered on. So yeah, just being down here on Earth and trying to figure it out like everyone else.

CP: When did you guys finally start to feel established as a band?
Martel: The first year and a half in Nashville we actually all shared a four bedroom house and there were two married couples and three single guys trying to figure out how to live in community and learning to take care of the daily schedule, “Who's cooking what?” “Who's cleaning what?” That really was kind of a pressure cooker for us trying to figure out if this was going to work for us. That first year and a half we had to live together because we didn't have any money. I was making about $300 a month back then and we made it work and that's when we really gelled.

CP: Who pushed you to try out for this and what were your initial thoughts, what did you think would actually happen by you trying out?
Martel: The whole Queen thing came around in a really timely fashion. I was thinking about what I was going to do in 2012, our families were growing in the band and that's always been our first priority, so we planned to take some extra time off the road so the guys can be with their families.

My wife and I don't have kids yet so I figured “Well while we still have no kids I have the freedom to travel a little more than the other guys probably” and I figured, “Well instead of trying to get some other part-time jobs to supplement the loss of income from not being on the road, I'll look into singing with other bands or do some session work whatever it may be.”

Right around that time I got this email from a friend of mine here in Nashville. I pretty much got that email the day the Queen Extravaganza started in late September. I read the contest rules and the vision behind and seeing that it was an official thing put on by the band Queen themselves I thought, “It has never been my dream to be in a tribute band. I love to write my own music, I love what I do in Downhere and hope to keep doing it for a long time,” but just the timing of the whole thing and the fact that people have been telling me for years that I sound like Freddie Mercury, it just was kind of a no brainer for me.

I still had some self doubt about the thing and I haven't heard a lot of guys sing like Freddie Mercury, I know there's a few of them out there for sure, but I felt like I had a good chance of at least moving on to one of the vocalist spots. They were looking for three singers, so I thought I had a decent shot at it so I thought, “Well if I win this what is it going to mean for Downhere?” And at the time I really had no idea what it meant for Downhere and whether it was the potential of taking the place of Downhere. I had the video all ready to send and submit, I was sitting there on the couch next to my wife and I was like, “Yeah I don't know if I really want to do this. I love what I do, if I win this I don't know what to do with my band” and she's like “Marc, this is like cut out for you. This is a no brainer for you.”

And so I'd have to say that the final word went to my wife, and I listened to her, as a good husband should and here I am today with a new job, for next year.

CP: When you started getting viral feedback for the Youtube video, what were your first impressions of that?
Martel: A little bit of fear honestly, excitement obviously. I had no idea that was going to happen, you can't predict a viral video. It doesn't really happen to a lot of people. I submitted the video on the 21st of September, and the next morning I checked what the views were at and I remember specifically it was at 303 at like nine in the morning and I thought “Well that's about what I expected,” I honestly didn't expect much. That's about what a Downhere video gets.

Then in the afternoon, it's funny because it had exactly doubled in views. It was at 606 and I was like well that's kind of funny. Well this is going to be a small thing if I win, who even knows if they'll carry on with the whole Queen Extravaganza, maybe they are hoping for more views than that.

At the same time the contest had just started and maybe they haven't gotten the word out. I had no idea what was going on, and in the evening around 9 p.m.

I went to check and all of a sudden it was in the thousands and in the tens of thousands, I think it was around 18,000 views and I had noticed that the comments were coming in almost every second, and people were saying “Hey the Internet has arrived welcome to the Internet guy, dude you've gone viral” And I was like, “What does that even mean, viral video? Let’s see if this is really true, maybe it'll just spike after a few hours and then stop.”

Sure enough the next morning it was in the hundreds of thousands, and for probably the first week or two it was just really surreal all the attention I was getting. I mean people have told me I sound like Freddie Mercury for years and I didn't really think it was that big of a deal honestly. I thought “Well, I know there's other guys who can sound like Freddie Mercury, it's not terribly unique, sure I can do that, but what does it all really mean in the end?”

It caught on so crazy over the Internet, it surprised everybody, it was kind of an outer body experience. I keep telling people it's so weird being the one guy that can join in with everybody and say “Hey way to go this is so exciting for you, this is awesome.” It's kind of weirdly lonely in a way. Just being the center of attention in that way, it's a strange thing. I think I've seen enough people have their 15 minutes that I can sort of manage my 15 minutes of fame with it. I knew it would eventually die down, but it was sure fun while it lasted.

CP: How did it feel when you got the phone call from Ellen to go on her show?
Martel: That was crazy because a lot of the comments that were being left early on in the viral thing were saying we need to get this guy on Ellen. I didn't know my wife was such a big Ellen fan at the time, and I said 'Hey check out what this guy said, he said I should be on Ellen.' She freaked out and said 'What you're going to be on Ellen!' And was like, 'N o, no, no, he was saying that I should be on Ellen, there's a big difference.' But obviously I got the call from my manager a few days later saying I got Ellen.

Yeah that was kind of the next step up from that whole thing, it kind of made the whole thing real. Up until then it was just kind of people commenting on Youtube and videos, that was about it. The Ellen thing was the first real world, yeah this is changing my life. I'm going to actually go to L.A. and be on a television show, this is really crazy.

CP: What does your job entail and do you feel any pressure?
Martel: I feel really oddly well prepared for it. Being a professional musician with Downhere for 11 years now, I feel completely at home on stage. Obviously a lot of people are going to have expectations as far as my performance on stage whether I'm expected to emulate Freddie Mercury on stage. Which I don't think is expected of me from the Queen people. A lot of tribute bands have Freddie look a likes, even though a lot of people tell me I sort of look like him, you know they grow the mustache and wear the same costumes and all that and try to act like Freddie. I think it helps that I'm not expected to be Freddie Mercury, I think what they want of me is to sort of bring my own artistic self into this thing.

Obviously, I sound remarkably like him and that's definitely an advantage, I think people are going to always be critical when you're in the public eye like that. People are going to say whatever they want especially on Youtube where there is no accountability and complete anonymity. People have a chance and do take that chance to do and say whatever they want. That really doesn't bother me, I'm just excited to do something a little different than what I've done for the last decade or so. It's going to be a really fun time to branch out and play some other music that just so happens to be some of the greatest music ever recorded, so that doesn't hurt either.

CP: How long is this actual gig with Queen, and what happens when you are ready to do stuff with Downhere again?
Martel: I think so far what I know, the Queen thing is supposedly a three month tour in the middle of next year going possibly into the fall a bit, sort of playing it by ear as to how long they are taking this tour out on the road. It's going to depend on the success of it. Obviously touring is a lot harder than it used to be. Maybe do a test run in the beginning. They're really wise about it, I don't think anyone knows how long this Queen Extravaganza thing is going to be. My guess was temporary, which is great because Downhere is still planning to tour next year and we are going to be doing a second leg of the "Called Love Tour" with Aaron Schust and Jason Gray which was really successful last fall. We are already planning gigs for that in the spring, then Queen Extravaganza from then through the summer and the fall is kind of up in the air. All I can tell you now is that Downhere is definitely not breaking up. Still planning on recording some music sometime next year, that's pretty much all I can tell you at this point.

CP: What was your biggest rock star moment before any of this?
Martel: It's kind of funny to put it that way because we have been the anti-rock star band in a way. Even our biggest fans know this about us. They respect us as humans and don't objectify us. Our demeanor as musicians when we are on stage kind of squelches that desire for people to elevate. We've always managed to remain humble and down to Earth as much as possible when your job involves being under lights and people watching you.
Probably the biggest moment we've had as a band throughout the years was in 2006 when we played in Morocco which I believe was in front of 60,000 people. That was a very surreal moment just to see a sea of people in front of you. People that didn't even know our music at all, but I'm sure about 99.9 percent of them never heard a single Downhere song. But yeah just to play in front of that many people is mind boggling.

CP: What's your biggest failure?
Martel: I don't think I could point to one, there have been far too many of those to count. And everybody has their own idea of what a rock star moment would be and the antithesis of that might be sleeping on someone's floor because our promoter couldn't afford a hotel or a place with a spare bed. We've done that plenty of times. Breaking down on the side of the highway in your 15 passenger van is a lot of fun. Having to unload your gear on the side of the road because your trailer broke down. There's so many of those moments that I'm actually really thankful for because they have prepared me for the realities of what comes next.

I think I have some pretty good expectations. And the whole fame thing which I've tasted in a very small amount is a weird thing. Not that I think I'm really famous or anything like that, but just this small amount of attention I've gotten with this viral thing. Comparing myself to the ultimate rock star of today (Justin Bieber), I feel like all the things that have happened over the years and being around the other members of Downhere who really have their heads on straight, because of that I think it has helped me keep my head on straight and I can keep it in stride and really focus on what the important things are in all of this – my relationships first with my wife and God, and the people I come in contact with. The rock star thing is all kind of fluff.

CP: Last thoughts?
Martel: Finally I'd like to say I'm really excited for what's about to happen in 2012. There's a lot of questions as far as what it's going to look like. If you're a praying person, pray for me that I make good and wise decisions with all of it and be the representative of Christ I'm called, we are all called to be in situations. We’ll keep you posted as much as possible on my website, Marcmartelmusic.com, Downhere.com, come out to a show it'll be fun to see you.

Original interview by me at the Christian Post

DJ Earworm Video for 2011 "World Goes Boom"

2012-01-11T20:41:00.002-05:00

This year’s top 25 music videos have come together in one mega mashup song and video that has been flooded with so many views that the video counter froze at 303 views as of 9:00 a.m. EST, despite having thousands of comments and "likes" suggesting a viral video.

The song, "World Go Boom," by DJ Earworm, is the DJ's annual ode to the year's biggest dance hits and has been making "The United State of Pop" since 2007.

The artist, who's real name is Jordan Roseman, is offering the track for free download off his website (http://djearworm.com/united-state-of-pop-2011-world-go-boom-htm.htm).

In a statement from his website, Earworm wrote, "2011 gave us songs of regret and anger, pride and perseverance, and lots of fire. When someone’s taken everything from you, what do you do? WORLD GO BOOM."

He also noted some changes he made to his selection process of the songs. "In efforts to better reflect the year, I have a system that draws from the weekly charts from throughout 2011 that ensures that all the late-breaking hits (such as “We Found Love” & “Sexy and I Know It”) are included in the 2011 mix," Earworm stated.

The DJ appears to enjoy simplicity despite the complexity of his work. Under his about me section on his website, he wrote, "Basically, what I do is take a bunch of songs apart and put them back together again in a different way. I end up with tracks called mash-ups, which I post to this website."

Adding, "I also DJ with my laptop."
According to Global Herald, the DJ uses a songwriting approach to his mashups. He creates a theme and then selects certain words or phrases from the songs and cuts them up and layers them to make the song have its own message.

Watch the song below

The list of songs in the video is as follows (alphabetical order):
Adele – "Rolling In The Deep" and "Someone Like You"
Black Eyed Peas – "Just Can’t Get Enough"
Bruno Mars – "Grenade" and "The Lazy Song"
Britney Spears – "Till The World Ends"
Cee Lo Green – "F* You"
Enrique Iglesias – "Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)"
Foster the People – "Pumped Up Kicks"
Jennifer Lopez – "On The Floor"
Jeremih feat. 50 cent – "Down On Me"
Katy Perry – "Firework," "E.T.," and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"
Lady Gaga – "Born This Way"
LMFAO – "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It"
Lupe Fiasco – "The Show Goes On"
Maroon 5 – "Moves Like Jagger"
Nicki Minaj – "Super Bass"
OneRepublic – "Good Life"
Pink – "Raise Your Glass"
Pitbull – "Give Me Everything"
Rihanna – "S&M" and "We Found Love"

Original article published by me for The Christian Post

Face the King to Play NAMM Convention in Anaheim

2011-12-15T22:56:00.002-05:00

An official statement from the band has confirmed their involvement in the NAMM convention in California. They told me, "Face The Kingwas just selected to play the NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA on January 19th atthe Marriott Center Stage at 7pm. We are attending the convention as artists ofKORG USA, Spector, Blackstar, and VOX."

More details can be found on their page below

http://www.reverbnation.com/show/6030758

The band is also working on their EP and recently began tracking the drums and bass tracks on Dec. 10th at the Factory Underground in Norwalk, Connecticut.

http://www.factoryundergroundstudio.com

"The rest of the tracks (guitar, vocals, keyboard, etc.) will be self recorded in our newly homegrown portable studio! No release date as of yet. We are promising much more energy and hooky vocal melodies/lines than the previous EP," the band said.

For now you can catch the band at these following locations:

Dec. 23rd at The Room in Brookfield, CT Doors open at 5:30 Tickets can be purchased here: http://www.ticketstorm.com/venue/theroom/brookfield/1209/

Jan. 12th at Mulchay's in Wantagh, we will be headlining. Roughly between 9 and 10pm, the official time is TBA. http://www.reverbnation.com/show/6058226

Jan. 19th at the 2012 NAMM Convention in Anaheim, CA

For my full interview with the band click here

Check the band out at any of these locations

http://www.facethekingband.com

http://www.facebook.com/facetheking

http://www.twitter.com/facetheking

http://www.reverbnation.com/facetheking

http://www.youtube.com/facetheking

Interview with Michael Tait of the Newsboys

2011-12-13T02:11:00.000-05:00

The Newsboys are set to embark on what is to be their largest tour as a band starting in January with the "God's Not Dead Tour," and the Christian Post was able to chat with lead singer Michael Tait.

Tait said the tour was the Newsboys biggest because of the amount of dates scheduled, and it would also be special to him because it is his first all worship record with the Newsboys, and looks forward to worshipping city to city.

When asked why the album and tour title of God's Not Dead was so important, Tait replied, "People need to hear that sometimes. He's real, He's alive, Jesus has raised from the dead."

"He's more than an idea or spiritual being," he explained.

Touring with the Newsboys are a mixture of young people with hearts for God and a positive message. The bands include: The City Harmonic, Abandon, and Anthem Lights.

Also appearing at all the dates is Bob Lenz, who will presenting the gospel every night.

The bands are also working with Compassion International and I Am Second, two organizations that will be speaking and reaching out during the tour.

Compassion International deals with global child poverty, and works with local churches to try and put it to an end.

The singer was specifically excited about the message contained in song “I Am Second.”

"We are second to none," he said. "Put everyone else before yourself and be second to Christ."

The organization is really a movement that inspires people to live for God and share their testimonies online so others can share.

As far as the new album is concerned, Tait said the response has been "fantastic" and he along with the fans have loved the reunion of his former band mate from DC Talk, Kevin Max on two tracks, "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)" and "I Am Second."

He also said despite some of the tracks on God's Not Dead being remakes of older Newsboys worship songs from Peter Furler's days, it was important for him to put his own spin on them.

"I want to do the songs justice, or do them better. Put the new Newsboys savvy on them," he said.

On whether people were used to him as the singer for the Newsboys after many years of singing with DC Talk, and former singer Peter Furler being in the band since 1985, Tait said, "There still are some naysayers."

"It's not like I'm an unknown character. They could have picked someone worse," he said with a laugh.

Tait said when covering old songs he tried to "get inside" all of the older material and if he didn't think he could do it, he left it alone.

The 45-year-old singer said the differences between DC Talk and Newsboys is like the differences between his ex-girlfriends. "Each one you liked for a different reason and had a different emotional response too," he said laughing after he warned of a bad analogy.

Tait has had a magical run in his music career. When DC Talk started in 1988 as a three piece gospel rap trio, he would have never guessed they'd become the biggest openly Christian act of all time.

Upon the group splitting up in 2001, Tait would go solo for a few years before taking over the mantle of the Newsboys, another one of Christian music's biggest bands ever, from Peter Furler in 2009.

"I'm so blessed," he said.

DC Talk (L to R) Michael Tait, Kevin Max, and TobyMac

"In DC Talk the song would never end. I would sing, then Kevin would sing, then Toby would rap. I couldn't finish a song," he said and then demonstrated what he meant by singing a few lines of DCT's "Say the Words."

"Now," he said, "I can start the song and finish it. It's just me."

Tait spoke about the Newsboys fans being just as good as DC Talk's because many were also fans of his former group. "We share the same fan base, the transition was easy."

Many times the Newsboys will throw in DCT's hit song "Jesus Freak" as part of their set. They performed it once with TobyMac and another time with Christian rapper KJ-52. Sometimes Tait does TobyMac's raps himself.

"I'm not a rapper. I do the best I can," he laughs.

On any future collaborations with former singer Peter Furler, Tait thinks it is quite possible.

"I would love to cross paths with Peter. He's a good friend of mine for a long time, it would be classic."

CP asked Tait: “What is one unknown fact about the Newsboys that many people may not know?”

He replied, "Newsboys actually opened up for DC Talk a few times in 1989 and 1990 when they had the Hell Is For Wimps album."

Tait closed the interview by inviting everybody out to come see them. "We'd love to meet you!" he exclaimed.

Peter Furler

The Newsboys were co-founded in 1985 by Peter Furler and guitarist George Perdikis in Australia.

Originally the band’s drummer from 1985 to 1997, Furler took over vocals when former vocalist John James left due to an admitted drug and alcohol problem.

James has since cleaned up and is now involved in ministry.

Together the band has released 15 albums spawning countless singles and major tours, and received worldwide critical success with their 1994 album Going Public, featuring their biggest single "Shine," and 1996's album Take Me to Your Leader.

They've been nominated for four Grammys and 24 Dove Awards winning five including Rock Album of the Year, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, Short Form Music Video of the Year, and Event Album of the Year.

Other awards won include Best CCM Video 1999 by the Billboard Music Video Awards, 1995 Video Award and 1999 Video Award from the International Angel Awards, and Favorite CCM Album 1999 from the Nashville Music Awards.

Article originally on the Christian Post.
This article was a dream come true for me as DC Talk and the Newsboys were the first bands I ever listened to. It is because of these two groups that I myself play music and have a passion for it. I remember getting these albums on cassette way back in 1995. I wore those cassettes out and eventually got the CD's. Thank you Michael Tait for a truly amazing experience.

Kel Mitchell of 'Kenan & Kel' Interview

2011-12-08T16:47:00.001-05:00

Kel Mitchell is a name synonymous with 90s pop culture, whether it was his unforgettable roles in Nickelodeon classic comedy shows like "All That" or "Kenan & Kel," to his movie roles in "Goodburger" and "Mystery Men.

"Fans and orange soda lovers all over the world have been wondering what Kel is doing with himself, and Broken Records has the scoop on everything from new projects, directing, rapping to his love for Jesus Christ.

When asked "What it was like being such a huge star in Hollywood?," Kel talked about being just a regular kid from the south side of Chicago and having it be "a surreal and humbling experience."

Even now, he said he will sign every autograph and reminisce with fans on the characters he has played because without the fans he would be nothing.

Growing up a child of the 80s and early 90s had a profound effect on the actor as well as allowing him to pick up his skills from other funny people. "Muppets, Martin Lawrence, In Living Color, and the Wayans Bro's definitely played a part in what I do."

Kel reminisced with The Christian Post on his favorite moments on "All That" and said his favorite character was Coach Kredmin. "Coach Kredmin, I would go over the top as much as possible. Always different and insane. He was my favorite."

As for his favorite moment on the show, he recalled a particular skit where he had to make a milkshake for Kenan's character, "One of the funniest is when Kenan's character, playing a construction worker. I had to make him a milkshake and I actually made it with a burger. We kept laughing and we broke the fourth wall."

Kel was asked about his real persona as compared to the one he played in "Kenan & Kel" a goofy situational character. He said he is a little like both characters, "A little bit of both, I'm definitely a leader. Just going after my dreams and motivated to do something, nobody can stop me," referring to Kenan on the show and referring to Kel's character, "Kel looked at the brightside of everything, that's me as well."

He said he remains close friends with Kenan and that a reunion show is definitely possible. "I'm on the west and he's on the east, it's been awhile since I've seen him, so we definitely have to do something together. I would be interested in doing something, probably like a cop film," he said. "I'm more into film, and putting out my films, but I'd definitely be interested in sketch comedy," when asked if he'd do "SNL" like Kenan.

"I'm interested in doing a "Kenan & Kel" reunion, you just have to talk to Kenan about it first."

Teen Nick started airing "The 90s Are All That" this summer, taking some of the classic shows from Nick's prime and running them starting at midnight so the early to mid 20's crowd can watch their old shows again.

Kel was really excited about it and glad the fans got what they wanted. “Fans were always talking about it online saying they wanted to see re-runs of shows. I guess the people won," he said.

In honor of the block of programming and his pop culture love of orange soda from "Kenan & Kel," he created "The All Orange Everything Tour."

For the tour Kel traveled city to city in a big bus and held orange soda parties and contests. Guest are required to wear orange, the ladies have an orange fashion show, the men have orange soda drinking contests, and the whole night features 90s music.

Setting himself up for the next question, CP asked Kel if he really did love orange soda. He responded, "The funny thing is, I actually liked to drink orange soda when I was younger as well. Drinking it on the show was great, I'm glad it wasn't a vegetable drink...but definitely drink your vegetables kids, I know I do."

"Everywhere I go people talk about it, in a question and answer session, someone asked me, 'Hey Kel, do you still love orange soda?'"

As of right now Kel is working on a few projects.

He currently is doing voice work for two cartoons airing in 2012: "Wild Grinders" on Nicktoons, and "Motor City" on DisneyXD.

The first show has Kel voicing a skateboarder, while the second is about cars and takes place in the year 3000 in Detroit. He said the cars are a cross between "Terminator" and "Fast and the Furious." This show is coming out in December.

He said he enjoys voice acting and likes the feeling of getting something accomplished quickly, and said many celebrities are involved and not many people know about it.

"Voice acting is a whole different type of world. I really enjoy it, you can wake up and do it in your pajamas. It's very laid back," he said. "You really have to articulate and pull that voice to make it interesting to the ear."

Kel is also deeply into music, and has recorded a number of songs for his movies, like his song for "Mystery Men," as well as other side projects.

"I would perform on 'All That.' Back in the first season, I was in a group called After Maft (Mind Over Future Thought). We performed the first season, and the season before I left. I always try to do some type of music, I usually write for the soundtrack or prepare some type of music. Still dabbling," he said.

Perhaps his biggest project and one he is most proud of is, "Dance Fu." He wrote the film, directed, and starred in it. The story is about a guy who can only fight when music is playing.

Kel said growing up he loved dance and karate movies, and wanted to mix the genres. The movie stars: Kel, Cedric the Entertainer, Tommy Davidson, and Affion Crockett.

"We had a blast, it was like going to a family reunion," he said of the experience.

The actor said some other skills that he has include: writing screenplays, poetry, rapping, directing music videos, and being active in his church as well as working on a book.

Kel was asked whether he felt typecast as an actor because of his previous work, to which he said, "There was definitely a thought of type casting. I like to dabble with all types of entertainment as far as, drama, action, sci-fi- my resume shows I tried many different things, projects and genres," said Kel.

"I Don't like to put my creativity in a box, and I didn't want to keep doing the same thing over and over again."

Lastly, Kel wants everyone to know how important Jesus is in his life. Every Youtube video he puts out features a Bible verse at the end and is meant to inspire and provoke thought.

One particular verse of importance to him is Ephesians 5:10, "It means a lot to me. You have to have God in your heart. You have to keep to keep going. You have to give him thanks for everything. I put the verses in my videos because I have to remember myself."

Check out Kelmitchell.net to be updated on all of Kel’s projects, ministry work, and tours.

http://twitter.com/Iamkelmitchell
Facebook
Youtube

Interview With Nathan Clarke Director of 'Wrestling For Jesus'

2011-12-08T01:49:00.001-05:00

Nathan Clarke of Fourth Line Films has opened up about his wrestling documentary to The Christian Post. "Wrestling For Jesus" follows an independent wrestling circuit, of the same name, as they fight to evangelize and bring others to Jesus – all while suffering from the struggles of their own lives.

"Wrestling for Jesus" follows league creator Timothy "T-Money" Blackmon as he goes through financial, marital, and spiritual struggles. The film sees him take a group of underdog wrestlers and create a successful evangelistic ministry until it all falls apart.

Initially Clarke wanted to make this film because he was really interested in faith and religion and the very beautiful and troubling things people do because of religion. He said, when people talk about religion, they never address both good and bad. "People tend to focus on one or the other. Part of what I try to do is look at that intersection of the absolute wonderful things that can happen and the scary things."

The director found out about WFJ through a chance news story, and became very interested but could not find any details on it. "Sort of a local news story with very few details," he said.

Clarke spoke about most people thinking the league was silly, but the goal was to prove them wrong. "One of the things documentaries do well is that they take issues that appear to be simple and make them complex," he said.

The first task at hand for the filmmaker was to visit South Carolina and find these wrestlers, to really see what they do. He first met with Timothy and Jessica, his wife, and got to know them. Through this time, Clarke also needed to see if he wanted to continue the story, so he shot test footage.

"They had a sense of how I was going to treat them. That I was going to treat their story with honesty and not going to make fun of them," Clarke said.

"We didn't know where the story was going when we were shooting," he added.

This was a huge factor in the movie because the story painted and advanced itself. One of the wrestlers, Gary, broke his neck. "I obviously didn't know it was going to happen," he said.

Then Timothy's marriage began to crumble, but he still agreed to show some of it and hoped something good would come of allowing the filming.

Clarke said the film was a long process with a few major gaps in between. He relayed that the group "started filming in Jan 2007 and filmed the last piece in Aug 2010, so about three and half years total.” However he added, “About a year and half went by where we didn't film."

He initially thought it would be a sub culture documentary and thought of it as a TV show. Things just did not pan out however. Then he learned of the accident and the failed marriage and "my heart began to break for these guys."

However, this bit of bad news created a much larger story and gave the film more emotional power.

Without giving away the film, Gary goes through a long recovery process while the league disbands due to Timothy's marital problems. His divorce causes him to realize something important in his life, his daughters.

Another message in the movie is that "Wrestling for Jesus" is about figuring out what it is like to be a father and learning to be truthful to yourself while getting a very troublesome story of a man pushing his family away because of the ministry.

Clarke said he wants the audience to take away two things from the movie. "I want people to have the experience that they spent some time getting to know someone they didn't know. And in a culture that currently is based on characterizing the other, an enemy, and throwing a 140 character slams at them," he said. "Actually getting to know someone who is a little bit different and explore a little bit about what motivates them in life and what causes them to make the decisions they make."

He also said there are different types of documentaries, "the issue based ones like Michael Moore where the viewer asks themselves, 'Do I agree with this film maker?' That's not what I'm trying to do," he said. "The film acts like a mirror so people respond to the film in many different ways."

Clarke wants people to see themselves reflected outward and wrestle with their own selves.
Another way people watch documentaries is with a closed mind. "People watch and say 'where are my stereotypes and dispositions, what does it say about me?'"

The director talked about how at first the audience may laugh at the subject and not feel any relation but the "connection became more surreal and valuable. Allows me to explore ways to tell stories, add to ideas that need to be furthered explored, more than people think."

He added, "So based on slamming the other person without understanding where they come from. I wanted to be able to model a different way of engaging viewer."

When asked about whether he thought WFC was an effective evangelistic tool he said, "yes and no."

"People who go to church need to ask themselves 'what's the difference between using wrestling for evangelism, using pizza party for evangelism, or using a Superbowl party for evangelism. In all of those things you are using a personal artifact that's valued by computer to bring those people into a place where you can present the gospel."

Depending on the activity, that is the people you are going to draw, stated Clarke.
There is a discussion to be had about violence as evangelism. "Is it worth risking your body for it?"

"Wrestling is the number one and two rated shows on cable television. It's an interesting perspective."

Clarke believes that many were not giving their life to God for the first time, but rather rededicating. "Is conversion a single moment or a journey," he asked.

Clarke would not reveal his actual religious beliefs in interviews because of any problems it may cause concerning taking a side. "I purposely avoid this question when it comes to this film. If I was to identify myself as a evangelical Christian and people knew that before they saw the film they would have assumptions about how I was approaching the films, like I was bias."

He said the story of WFJ had needed to be told because the film helps think through the importance of being a father. He explained he had two daughters and that filming this particular story was interesting because of that. It's an interesting way of what it's like to be a father, and see what it's like for fathers to fail and what it does to some of their children."

As far as the status of the league, Clarke said the league is not around, sometimes they get together for special occasions to wrestle, and said Timothy "by and large liked it [film]...some tough scenes to watch."

Timothy has learned from the experience, but wants other people to be encouraged and learn from it.

As for the athletes wrestling abilities, the filmmaker said, "They are better than most semi-pro wrestlers you'll see, but they are not WWE. Character development and build wise, they are not big enough," and acknowledges it's not as easy as it looks.

Currently Clarke is in the early stages of a local project about a woman and the topic is generational legacies. "Why is it that some people do not follow in the footsteps of their parents?" he asks.

He wants the movie to focus on how people overcome or take a 180 turn from their parent’s lives and become something they "like."

For more info on the film go to http://wrestlingforjesus.com/ or Like it on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/wrestlingforjesus?sk=info

Original article from the Christian Post

Just Visiting Album Review by Gerard Ucelli

2011-11-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

Even though this album isn’t what I’m necessarily into, these guys have a very radio friendly rock sound that is highly reminiscent of the grunge era.

The single “Life In A Shoebox,” which is hands down the best song off this album, the band can be easily compared to bands such as Nirvana and Beck. I love how the story flows and it makes the viewer want to listen more into the story.

What makes me commend Just Visiting is that they’re a bilingual band. A couple of songs were in Spanish on this album, “Te Prometo” and “Para Ti.”

Even though I am not bilingual, I felt like the lyrics represented tough times and depression because these tracks were definitely the most emotionally charged. I took an interest in re listening to those songs despite not knowing any Spanish.

The very beginning of “Lust” had a very poppy feel to it at first. It felt like I was listening to The Strokes. As the song goes further, it had the presence of listening to Brand New’s older material. Lead Vocalist, Johnny Cervini has a similar singing style to Jessie Lacey when it comes to his darker songs.

At first I wasn’t a fan, but after listening to how deep the lyrics are in each and every song, I have to give them the upmost respect in what they do because it is done so passionately.

Check them out on Facebook

Link Drop- New Music, Videos, and More!!!

2011-11-27T21:28:00.001-05:00

My Pet Dragon
I interviewed My Pet Dragon last year for the Banner and really heard from them since until a few days ago. I'm happy to report they are okay and have a bunch of new music. Check out their music video for "Moonshine," and listen to their album Mountains and Cities.

Listen to album

Katie Fasulo
KT is a very talented singer and a personal good friend of mine who used rock out with Spread the Rumor a few years back. Check out her acoustic song "Goodbye."

Jon Comis
Check out my friend Jon's acoustic covers. He's getting a ton of views and positive responses from these!

InDisguise
The second single "In Your Face" off ID's fourth coming debut album, Ashes Divide, slated for an early 2012 release on Romulus X Records.

Download available at
www.indisguise.bandcamp.com

Crash the Superbowl
Watch the video here and vote!

Voodoo Terror Tribe
Check out this metal band's NAME YOUR PRICE ALBUM, Stands to Reason EP.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://voodooterrortribe.bandcamp.com/album/stands-to-reason-ep"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Stands To Reason (EP) by Voodoo Terror Tribe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Talain Rayne
Check out the album Attic Lights and listen or download it.

<a href="http://talainrayne.bandcamp.com/album/attic-lights">Attic Lights by Talain Rayne</a>

Radioactive Material

This local S.I. punk band, and close friends of mine, are kick starting their new band with a few songs for the masses on their Facebook.

Check them out here

Mike McNichol

Check out some humble yet passionate recordings by local S.I. guitarist Mike McNichol.

Morning Mist by mike-mcnichol

The Rose Inside the Minefield by mike-mcnichol

Everlong (Foo Fighters Cover) by mike-mcnichol

Rachel Chan Interview on Album 'Go'

2011-11-26T23:19:00.001-05:00

This article was originally done with the Christian Post and can be found here.

Rachel Chan, daughter of best selling author and world renown evangelist Francis Chan, is making her own headlines with the upcoming release of her first album Go, slated for release Jan. 10 2012 under the EMI Christian Music Distribution.

The 15-year-old singer has had a passion for music her whole life. Playing the piano since she was six, recently teaching herself guitar, and singing as far back as she can remember – it was time to put it together.

Usually focused on student ministry, Chan said getting signed was unexpected and an awesome experience. "Definitely very exciting and new," said Chan, as she was in continuous prayer about the situation.

The young singer was very blessed as she got hooked up with a well known producer from the start, Dave Lubben. "I absolutely loved working with him. He was like a big brother," she said.

One of the greatest attributes of working with Lubben was his attitude and making "everything about the Lord."

Rachel said her mom was a singer and she was used to being around a studio and watching others record, but as far as doing it herself for the first time, she describes it as "mind-blowing."

She expressed the importance of being involved with the writing process of the album making sure her hand was on every track.

"I don't know why God chooses people," she said when asked about writing the lyrics, but states she gives glory to God, loves music, and does it for the kingdom.

Chan feels she has a very important message for her peers and she is unafraid to tell it. "I hope they are encouraged to be bold for Christ, and be serious and real about God."

She hopes everyone can see the awe and beauty, and the importance of coming from somewhere the listener can relate to.

Perhaps one of the most surprising features on this album is a guest rap appearance by Francis Chan on the album's first single, "Prove It."

She originally had "No intention of having my dad rap on it," she said. "Let's try having my dad rap on it," Chan said after talking about needed a little something extra for the bridge of the song.

The key aspect of the song is to portray the love of a father both here on Earth and spiritually. Chan describes the song as a metaphor for the love of God and how he takes care of us.

As far as her goals for the future, Chan said, "[I'm] not much of a planner and go with the flow," and hopes people who hear are changed and encouraged to do something crazy for the Lord.

Next year she has some shows lined up with the Rend Collective Experiment, and will also perform at places her father speaks.

Right now she said she is perfectly content with praising the Lord, and "doing school stuff."

Chan would like to add, "Be bold in your faith and give all glory to Jesus. Don't be scared , the greatest witness we have is our lifestyle. Don't bury your talent."

She further said, "Young people are at a lack of role models who are following Christ. By listening to the CD it's not just words and tune. Don't be lukewarm."

Check out her Facebook

Website

Family Force 5 Album Review: 'III'

2011-11-20T21:59:00.001-05:00

Original article on the Christian Post

"Family Force 5 is a party that makes you shake your donk," said FF5 lead singer Soul Glow Activatur, and now that the album has been reviewed, his statement is absolutely correct.

FF5's new album III is a fantastic journey through the innovative musical minds of crunk rock pioneers that paved the way for artists like LMFAO and 3OH!3.

The music is a fusion of the beats and sounds of southern rock mixed with almost hip-hop sang/rapped vocals over trippy 808s and heavy guitar riffs.

There is literally no genre of music the band does not dip into, even having a bluesy and reggae type mash-up.

Family Force 5 is one part Kid Rock and Lil Jon mixed with Kanye West's '808s and Heartbreaks' and Gym Class Heroes, or as the band refers to themselves, "Ghetto redneck music."

The album opens up with strong with "Can You Feel It." This song is very aggressive and sort of proves to be the anthem of the album. It's kind of like TobyMac circa Momentum days but still has its own flare.

The next song, "Paycheck," has a "swaggerful" like flow to it as part of the chorus says, "Shoulda been a baller, shot caller," then brings it back to a funny perspective saying, "Now I thank God for the hand out..." This song is extremely catchy.

Singer, Soul Glow, says this is his favorite song. He explains, "People think it's political, but everyone seems to be having financial hardships. We wanted to write something people can relate to and have something to say, you know, dig deep and make it sound real."

Track three, "Wobble," is already a fan favorite at live shows according to Soul Glow. It's an infectious dance tune meant to get crowds moving. The song is a half reggae/dance and half dance party moves song.

The next song, "You Got It," is reminiscent of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" with its funky bluesy groove and even tone as the singer expresses his love for a girl. This is a slow relaxing track.

Where "You Got It," leaves off, "Mamacita" picks up. The song is essentially the Latin sounding continuation of the previous song. It carries on from the spark found in "You Got It." Naturally it's more danceable and has a brilliant chorus with the best part repeating saying, "You got me loco saying Ay Yi Yi."

"Tank Top" brings in the pulsing 808 beats and deep synths as they bring in a fun strictly club like song. Definitely a song that would be played on a pop/rap station.

The next song, "Not Alone," is by far the most serious and deep song on the album. It really shows off the bands song writing ability and proves that sometimes life isn't always a party. The singer calls out to God for His touch singing, "I need you now, I want you now/To tell me that you're not alone."

Returning to true crunk rock form, "Dang Girl," brings their signature feel back. The vocals are over the top and contain a southern gritty rap flare to them. It's the club "banger" of the album with an amazing synth breakdown transition at the end.

Perhaps the best radio single on the CD is, "Love Gone Wrong." It's a super catchy song with an even stronger sing-along hook. This song is about the perfect girl from the singer's point of view.

The last song on the record is appropriately titled "Get On Outta Here." This song features the most rap on the album, and it proves to be an angry but fun send off dismissing all the haters.

Soul Glow said the song was the "anti-hater anthem of the batch" and they "wrote it with that in mind to be more personal."

The vocalist describes the bands unique sound as, "Fun party inspired rock. Some think it has to do with synthesizers. I guess so...we have plenty of 808 beats too." He goes on to explain crunk rock as being "very southern."

"It's what we are. We kind of just fell into it. We are from Atlanta, it's very southern. We have that rock vibe, and that super ghetto vibe. It's a blend of everything."

FF5 released III on Oct. 18 and in promotion have embarked on their It's All Gold Tour followed by a short Christmas tour. In January and February they will be heading back to the studio to record a few more tracks for their deluxe edition of the new album, calling the addition, 3.5.

Family Force 5 Interview with Soul Glow Activatur

2011-11-20T21:29:00.001-05:00

Interview with Soul Glow Activatur

Originally posted by the Christian Post

Family Force 5, is changing everything the music world may think about music and are infusing it with something different and creative.

Hailing from Atlanta, GA, these crunk-rock stars are all about having a good time and letting the listener have a great time with each listening experience.

First off, what is "Crunk-Rock?"

According to Soul Glow, crunk rock is, "Fun party inspired rock. Some think it has to do with synthesizers. I guess so...we have plenty of 808 beats too." He goes on to explain crunk rock as being "very southern."

When asked if that's what they set out to sound like, Soul Glow answered, "It's what we are. We kind of just fell into it. We are from Atlanta, it's very southern. We have that rock vibe, and that super ghetto vibe. It's a blend of everything."

He feels that FF5 are the pioneers of their style of music. Soul Glow and his brothers Jacob "Crouton" and Joshua "Fatty" Olds have been making music this way since the mid 90s and now there are a few other groups with the same style. "We definitely helped usher in groups like LMFAO and 3OH!3," he says.

FF5 loves to be unique and different. One way they do this is by assigning themselves stage names almost like they are rappers. So lets introduce the band:

Soul Glow is the vocalist and rhythm guitar player.

Crouton plays drums and does vocals.

Fatty plays bass and also does vocals.

Derek "Chap Stique" Mount is the lead guitar player.

Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin plays the synth, percussion, and also does vocals.

Soul Glow talks about the names being something fun they did because they are from Atlanta where a lot of hip-hop legends are from, especially Outkast with Big Boi and Andre 3000.

The names were originally a joke, but when they started seeing kids wearing homemade T-shirts, they knew they were on to something.

Soul Glow says, "Everyone had names, so could white suburban kids. It's part of the culture." In a disapproving and sorrowful tone he jokes, "Except for the name Crouton. I don't know what happened there," referring to his brother.

Another important aspect of Family Force 5 is there faith. Although not explicitly a Christian band, they are definitely Christians in a band who happen to have strong faith. "We have strong faith, but don't beat people over the head with it. We just want to make fun positive music that humans can listen to, ya know?"

Soul Glow goes on to talk about their new album titled III. It's FF5's third album, and was released Oct. 18 followed by the It's All Gold Tour.

In the band's press release it says III is a throwback to their first album. When asked about this, Soul Glow agreed saying, "The first album was very aggressive while our second album was more dance like. We wanted to give the fans what they wanted and not run away from being red neck ghetto kids."

In fact, the singer says he came to the realization he was a red neck while visiting L.A. He recalls being in a meeting talking about their music when someone brought it up. He denied it at first but then said to himself, "I'm southern, I do enjoy watching Nascar once in awhile, and love fried chicken...Yup, I guess I'm a red neck," he described.

Soul Glow said the highlight of the album for him is the song "Paycheck." He explains, "People think it's political, but everyone seems to be having financial hardships. We wanted to write something people can relate to and have something to say, you know, dig deep and make it sound real."

He says that track is doing well so far, and the song "Wabble" is getting a lot of positive feedback. "The overall response has been great – people are liking them," the frontman says. "There's something for everyone of this record. It's aggressive and 'dancey' with some serious stuff, more personal."

When asked what his biggest rock star moment was, Soul Glow immediately thought back to a tour they had completed, "We did a festival in the U.K. where we played with metal band Rammstein and the next night we played with MIA, who is more pop hip-hop. Both of those shows were drastically different yet had the same great vibe."

He admits that although they've played in front of 20 or 30,000 people before, it's the small things that feel the best. "One time I was driving through a Starbucks and I got a free coffee because the kid told me he loved my band. It was so cool."

Soul Glow says one of his biggest failures since being in the band is a tour they went on in 2008. "I didn't like the tour and I wasn't feeling the crowd."

Switching topics, he was asked, "What's one thing the world should know about you guys?"

"We pretty much do everything on our own. We do the art work, videos, directing, and photo shoots. It's fun to say that – [we are] excited about creativity," he replied. "We are creative idiots."

On possible dream collaborations, the singer said he'd love to work with Justin Timberlake. "Justin stop making movies and come back to music! I wasn't a fan of N*SYNC, but I love his solo music," he said.

The It's All Gold Tour will be followed by a short Christmas tour. In January and February they will be heading back to the studio to record a few more tracks for their deluxe edition of the new album, calling the addition, 3.5.

In five years time Soul Glow hopes to be on an island having "massive dance parties." "Justin Timberlake can come too!" he said.

Face The King Interview

2011-11-13T15:28:00.001-05:00

Face The King is a rapidly growing rock band from Long Island that is making waves with a slew of big shows and the release of their latest EP, The Burning & The Falling Down.

The band is entering the studio again this month to bring forth their new musical venture to the masses and are very excited to do so.

The band recently became involved in the "I95: Rumble At The Room" contest, where they are competed for supremacy over some of their peers at the Room in Brookfield, CT and won. A&R judges from EMI Records will be judged the bands and they received free recording time at the Factory Underground.

So be sure to check out the alternative/indie sounds of Face The King and get to know them right before they blow up.

INTERVIEW
Where'd you guys get the name from?

It was a dark and stormy night when a single bolt of lightning struck theground and left the words Face The King burned in the ground. Howdramatic is that!!! We got the band name from a song that I wrote for a previousband. The idea comes from that time when you feel you need to answer toa higher power for the life you have led. More specifically it is thetime before that - when you have to face yourself before you answer to anyoneelse. I still like the lightning story.

Describe your style of music and what makesthe band stand out among others?

I think we are a alternative rock band at the core of it. The music wewrite is very theatrical and dramatic. It takes you somewhere from startto finish. We understand that the music is as important as thelyrics. But what makes us stand out the most is where we all are rootedas musicians. Each one of us individually is comfortable with a differentstyle of music. The end result of combining all those styles is Face TheKing. We have heard from bands that we play the music they want to play butthey don't because they play what they think will make them famous. Westand out because we play the music we want to play - getting famous would be abonus.

I hear many different influences in yourmusic, how do you feel the "modern" up and coming rock band withinyour genre is evolving?

I think that the modern up and coming rock band is being pushed into the uniqueblend of a produced and raw sound. Studio magic is great for some bands -but there are bands that are coming around that are better live than in thestudio. I think we are on the verge on seeing the opposite of what hashappened to music. So many bands sounded great in the studio these pastyears. Then you see them live and they let you down. It is anillusion. Now - there are bands that sound great on record and understandthat they need to be better live. The modern rock band is learning whatit takes to put on a show.

What was it like working with Steve Haiglerand why do you feel the album is the band's big break?

Working with Steve can be summed up in a great saying that he repeated time andtime again in the studio. Steve pushed us to the point of tears. Ihonestly think I saw Joey curled up in the fetal position in the corner -rocking back and forth - wishing he had never stepped into the studio. Steve would say to us "Let's piss on some trees." Thistranslates to - leave your mark. Once your music is released - it can notbe taken back. I think that Steve helped us all learn that concept. As for the big break part - I don't think we go in thinking that this album isgoing to make us huge. We go in to make the best record. You hopeat the end that you feel as though the music has a shot of being the band's bigbreak. If you don't get that feeling - you should be working harder inthe studio and go and higher Steve.

How does the song writing process work, andwhat goes into perfecting and mastering the song?

We have a formula for song writing:

Eric + Dan x Anthony + Joey - Ego = Song

How great would that be if that worked? Honestly, the song writingexperience starts like a good conversation. Someone starts and you hopeeveryone is interested enough to contribute. Dan says that the songs cometogether faster and easier in this band than in any other he has played. I agree with that. When the song begins to take shape - that is when webreak it down. We make it as great as we possibly can. Sometimes we overthink it and go back to the start. Sometimes we just let come out andnever question it. The rule of thumb is that the song is never done untilit goes to tape. And even after that - things can change for the liveshow.

What's a Face the King live performance like?

It is pretty mediocre at best.

Actually the thing I am most proud of is our live show. We sound good onrecord because we sound great live. We put our all into every show. Each show is the most important show we are going to play. We bring theaudience on stage to sing. We talk to the crowd as if we were sittingaround the dinner table. Somewhere in between we play music for ourfans. Face The King believes in the show - from the moment we get onstage - until the last note. At the end of the show we want you to wantto see and hear more. The comment that we hear a lot is that your soundis too big for this venue. You should be playing arenas. Someday Ithink that will happen - but we are definitely enjoying the ride.

Tell me about the z100 contest and what does it mean for the band if successful?
The Z100 Hometown Hero contest is where bands and solo artists compete against one another to play a slot at this year’s Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden. The performance takes place in the garden’s Coca Cola Access Lounge. There is an A list panel of judges including the program director of Z100, and the presidents of both Universal Republic and RCA Records. The top acts are determined by the listeners/fans. Our main goal with entering the contest was to enter the top 25, since it allows us gain great exposure. It also ensures that high-end people in the business will be reviewing our music. Due to the immense and much appreciated support from our fans, we successfully made the top 25, placing 11th out of 400 competitors. Now we play the waiting game, where they will choose 5 finalists from the top 25 to enter a final round of voting. If a rock band such as us were chosen to play for a pop contest, I would be shocked for words. It would only mean greater things for the band if successful. Wish us luck!

What's the band's biggest rockstarmoment/biggest failure?

The biggest rock star moment hands down was when Anthony dove into the crowdnaked. That never happened. I would have to say that the momentthat made us feel like we were on the right path was the first time we saw thecrowd filled with fans - not friends - singing the words to all of oursongs. You never think about that - and when it happens - you can't stopthinking about it.

As for the biggest failure - I would have to say not quitting our oldbands sooner - so we could have started Face The King earlier.

Whatare the future goals for the band and what can we expect next?

Right now we are working on the next EP. It has to be bigger and betterthan everything before it. To be blunt though - we would all like to playmusic full time. That is our goal - to support ourselves with our music.

Also - to use the WaWa coupons that were sent to us by WaWa's corporate officefor the poem I wrote on our website. This might also be up there for thebiggest rockstar moment. If you think that is strange - it means you havenever been to a WaWa.

Anything you would like to add?

One last thing - this next EP is being written by Face The King and byfans. What I mean is that the lyrics are being inspired or are beingwritten from the words of our fans. If you have a story or a poem thatyou think would be a great song - send it to us. We have told our storyand now we want to tell yours. You can send it to our email: facethekingmusic@gmail.com.

LINKS:
Official Website
http://www.facethekingband.com

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/facetheking

Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/facetheking

Reverbnation
http://www.reverbnation.com/facetheking

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/facetheking

Interview with rapper/actor Eric D'Alessandro of ERIX FLIX

2011-11-08T01:29:00.002-05:00

Eric D'Alessandro is a talented kid from Staten Island who started out as a regular guy making funny videos just to entertain himself, friends, and family. After creating a local viral video where he mimicked MTV Cribs, I started creating his own buzz.

His second big break and most successful video is Maria Marie's Sweet 16 (warning NSFW due to language).

After making funny videos, Eric began to focus on music. He started by making parody rap songs to current hits, and use clever word play and great skill despite joking around and recording the songs live. He soon wasn't satisfied being the funny guy and began taking his craft seriously, recording serious rhymes over industry and licensed beats. Now he has a mixtape, Still Not Heartless.

DOWNLOAD STILL NOT HEARTLESS ON DATPIFF OR ON HULKSHARE

Check out the interview I did with him below at WSIA 88.9 Radio Station at the College of Staten Island.

Bare with me, it's my first video interview

INTERVIEW

The Actor

The Rapper

Album Promo

Check out his first single "Closure."

http://www.datpiff.com/Eric-DAlessandro-Still-Not-Heartless-mixtape.282081.html
http://hulkshare.com/2thew4snkom2

Hip Kitty Album Review for Self Titled EP

2011-11-06T22:39:00.001-05:00

Hip Kitty is a band that mixes several genres of music together forming what is sure to be a wonderful live experience and pure fun to jam out to.

The band's style is a mix between southern rock, metal, and modern country rock. Lead singer Jen Halverson is half Carrie Underwood and half arena rock band lead singer. Her vocals are raw and aggressive and fit perfectly over soaring guitars, and flow beautifully over ballads.

The band formed in 2002, and have two prior releases besides this EP.

"Hip Kitty is an exciting New Rock Band with great songs and an equally great Live Show. Their energy is infectious. They have worked hard at being in the Top of their class in the Nashville area. I feel they will be in the next group of up and coming bands out of the area. If you have a chance to see Hip Kitty, don't miss out, they may be on their way up and out of here very soon!” said their producer Greg Archilla.

The first track of the album, "I'm With Your Best Friend," starts the album off strong with a vibey mainstream country rock single. The bridge of the song shows off the singer's sexy side as she seems to almost be seducing the listener between her breaths.

"Over My Head" showcases Halverson's voice as she displays a lot of attitude in a catchy rock and roll anthem. The song is very guitar driven and really compliments the vocals well adding the already apparent attitude.

The ep's one ballad is is done excellently as it allows the band to really show off their chops. The vocals in "On This Side Of Heaven" also, allow Halverson to showcase her range as well. The song has "big sound" a nice light rock radio feel to it.

"Love Hangover" is one of the heavier tracks on the album, and infused with grunge and a cool vocoder voice effect adding to the feel of the song. The song introduces male vocals as well.

The last song closes out the album strong. "Agony And Ecstasy" is a great mix of all the other songs. It has a strong rock gritty country chorus. The best part of the track is the way all the sounds and style come together to close out a fantastic ep.

Check out Hip Kitty on their Facebook

Album Review for The Things They Carried 'There's Something I Can't Tell Anyone'

2011-10-31T03:01:00.002-04:00

The Things They Carried a.k.a 3TC, are a Metal/Screamo band form Long Island who are making headway in the scene after releasing their first full length on 12/17/10, There's Something I Can't Tell Anyone, releasing their first single "364 Day Anniversary" on 1/15/11.

3TC released their debut EP Attention Crisis in 2009 and immediately began touring in promotion of it. In the summer of 2010 they hit the studio again to begin recording their current album. "We wanted to create something ...that all of us were equally excited about. We wanted every song to be as good as the next, no fillers!" said the band's singer, Steve Schwartz.

What you get from the band is a unique blend of metal, melodic screamo, and the famous post-hardcore sounds from Long Island music. The band has the uncanny ability to switch styles up in songs and still put unique musical parts over stunning vocals and catchy choruses. Vocally they are like a heavier Silverstein or Used while musically they compare to Dead Poetic and at their softer moments, Hawthorne Heights.

There's Something I Can't Tell Anyone opens strong with the quick pulsing and guitar riffed "Rationality of Failure." The song stands out because of the the unconventional guitar work not heard in their style of music. It has more of a mainstream feel to it.

The next track is"364 Day Anniversary," this song was the first single off the album and deservedly so because of the heavy scream filled opening that captivates from the start. The verse has a great back and forth flow of screams and vocals, but the best part of the song comes from calm part on. Once the calm building bridge sets in, the song quickly jumps into a heavy fast passed transition ending with awesome double bass and screaming.

"Less Fun Than Being Dead" is definitely a radio single if they go that route. It has a poppy hook and is one of the catchiest tracks on the album.

Perhaps the song with the most moving parts musically and certainly the most unique, is "Mosely." The song almost tells a story without the words and does a good job of staying interesting the whole way through. And of course the track ends with their signature heavy ending.

"Doubt" has a slow creepy intro with good back and forth between the clean vocals and screaming like on "364 Day Anniversary." The chorus is very catchy and it also has a singlesque feel to it.

The following track, "18G," has an intense screamo intro switching between low bellows and high pitched shrills with singing following. Then it goes into this really dynamic psychotic screaming spoken word sounding part. It is without a doubt the favorite on the record.

"Is That Your Idea What a Girl Should Look Like?...Not Mine!" While posing a question and being extremely long, it also proves to be another strong track on the album. It features a soft intro with a strong chorus and a hop skip and a jump feel about it. In other words, it switches up between fast and slow and mixes patterns making a cool effect musically.

This next track is by far the best song musically. The guitar and drum work on here is phenomenal. There are plenty of strings and piano parts intertwined throughout the song, but they stand out the best toward the end when mixed with the choir like outro.

"An Ode to Rachel Winters" is more of a story telling type song and remains solid throughout. It has a soft intro and outro and brings some of the strings back. It features a nice smooth bridge with great guitar work layered with strings.

"Memoriam" is an excellent closing track. It's a stringy and acoustic ballad with "big" sound reminiscent of a radio soft single. The listener can definitely feel the emotion in the song that coincides with the music ending with electric guitars and harder vocals It's a build up that makes sense and is a nice capper to the record.

There's Something I Can't Tell Anyone stands out among many bands who dabble in the same genre because of the way they approach and create each song to be a work in of itself. They do a superb job of making every track unique but yet have the same feel with the rest of the album. The music seems to have a central theme and tells a wonderful story from beginning to end.

New Music, Commercials, and More- InDisguise, Freestyle Fam, ErixFlix, and Courtney Zito

2011-10-23T23:49:00.000-04:00

InDisguise
InDisguise just released a new single called "Soil Burns," off of their forthcoming album Ashes Divide, coming in 2012.

Voodoo Terror Tribe
VTT just released a new track called "Twenty 12," check it out below.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://voodooterrortribe.bandcamp.com/track/twenty12"&amp;amp;gt;Twenty12 by Voodoo Terror Tribe&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Courtney Zito
Director/actress, Courtney Zito of the "Hollywood Girl" web series is trying for a Superbowl commercial for the annual Doritos contest. Check it out and Vote!

Click the Link Below!
http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/?video=10202

Freestyle Fam
Two of the best rappers doing their thing right now, check out this 10 minute long cypher...

EriXFlix
This kid is nice with it, check out his other stuff on the Youtube page, interview soon

Book Review on 'Fire' and Interview with Author, Mima

2011-10-12T19:14:00.000-04:00

Fire is able to capture the essence of what it claims right on the cover, "The sweet side of love. The dirty side of rock."

The story follows the twists and turns of a music era that saw the beginnings of grunge music and gangster rap, the suicide of Kurt Cobain and the death of Tupac Shakur – both kings of the genre they helped set in place.

The sound was raw, the players were passionate, and music came from within the depths of the souls who created it.

Fire just doesn't define a band, it defines an era, an era where music shaped what was coming "tomorrow" and now that "tomorrow" is here, it never came.

The 90s are considered by many to be one of the biggest transitional phases of music following the unique sounds of the 80s and turning music into separate genres.

The 90s split Punk Rock into hardcore, post hardcore, pop-punk, and power-pop. Metal became grunge, screamo, nu metal, rapcore, and progressive. And finally Hip-Hop became legitimate, leaving the confines of family friendly radio and party tunes with Dr. Seuss rhymes and becoming the powerhouse of music it is today. The 90s brought out West and East Coast rap, dirty south, gangster, pop rap, and political rap.

The author of Fire goes by the pen name of Mima. Fire is her first book and it starts with the initial spark of life in a band as they set their sights on something greater.

Characters Tarah, Jimmy, William, Michael, and Eddie are thrusts into a whole new world – the music industry, where greed, tabloid gossip, and the party hard infested realities of being a celebrity become evident.

The writing is witty, the emotions are real, and the story is heartbreaking and guaranteed to move you in some way.

Once you pick the book up, you are sure not to put it down as you feel like you are inside the daily lives of the members of Fire.

The following is a Q&A with book author Mima

Where did you get the inspiration to write Fire?

The idea for Fire was actually floating around long before I actually sat down to write it. However, it was what I perceived as people's obsession with celebrity that probably was the biggest inspiration to actually start writing. It's the combination of everyone wanting to be famous but at the same time, almost not seeing celebrities as real people that I find kind of unsettling. With Fire, I really wanted to demonstrate that not only are celebrities real people with problems (that are often broadcast to the world), but also wanted to show that there is a great deal of work involved in 'being famous' - both breaking in and staying in the industry. And lastly, I feel that both the media, labels, management etc have a great deal to lose if celebrities aren't constantly in the public eye - whether it be in a good or bad light.

How long did this project take you start to finish?

I can't really say for certain because I always jump from one project to another, but I would say that I started to write and research for Fire probably in late 2008 - early 2009. The writing itself didn't take long, but research and publishing did take a little longer. Fire was published in January 2010.

What character do you identify with the most, and are these characters based on anyone?

It's funny because everyone always assumes I relate most to the main character, Tarah - but in many ways, I think Tarah is much more courageous than I am. I actually identify with Jimmy the most, although I relate to some aspect of all my characters. I never write about a character based on anyone. In fact, I introduce them into the story and they tend to form themselves. For example, Jimmy was supposed to be a minor character in Fire but he pretty much took over as soon as he arrived. That's why my next book is all about him.

What was the hardest part of the book and is there anything about the book you wish you could go back and change?

I would definitely go back and change my editor for the book! It's unfortunate how things played out, but it was my first time publishing and I was (and still am) learning as I go! There are definitely some things I would change in retrospect, such as dialogue and a few scenes. The most difficult part of the entire process would be getting a crash course on publishing, marketing etc...the actual writing, creating characters, etc is the easiest part.

Do you think this book would transfer well into a movie, and what actors/actresses would play the characters?

I actually think most of my writing would transfer better in movies than books simply because I often see writing as much more detailed in description and I would rather 'show'' people the story than have them read it. As for actors, it's hard to say. Best to not jump ahead of myself on this one.

What music do you listen to and what did you listen to in the early 90s?

POF of course! I actually listen to many kinds of music - everything from Katy Perry to Slipknot. I like music that is either really loud, really fast or has a lot of honestly and meaning in the words. I can't deal with country though. I listened to a lot of 90s music while writing, for obvious reasons. There is a very dark, intense feeling that seems to come with music during the entire grunge period that really sat with me the entire time I was writing Fire.

Why do you feel you were able to write this book, and what's your background/history with music?

Regarding 90s music, my background was mainly living through it. During the early 90s, music was a huge part of my life and in fact, most of the songs that I listened to during that time is connected to a very specific memory. I think just being a fan, reading a lot of biographies and really learning about the musicians and their lives is probably the most significant thing while writing this book. Anyone can look up facts - but you really have to understand the specific timeframe and how music related to younger people in the 90s. I also talked to various musicians and discussed their experiences, the good and the bad, etc.

What's in the future for Mima?

I have a new book coming out soon. It's the prequel to Fire, A Spark before the Fire. Right now that is my main focus, I also have another manuscript about teenaged bullying that I want to dust off. I also have another manuscript on the go about Vampires (just to jump on the bandwagon) and I might write a sequel to Fire. I also want to work on a screenplay someday....it's also on my never ending 'to do' list.

Check out Mima's sites
http://mimaonfire.com/
Facebook
Myspace
Twitter
Blogger
Goodreads

Read the first chapter of Fire here

Link Drop of Videos, Music, and Good Reads

2011-10-06T21:28:00.001-04:00

<a href="http://voodooterrortribe.bandcamp.com/track/masquerade">Masquerade by Voodoo Terror Tribe</a>

Sweet Lord this is good

Check out this new blog on Rap/Rock music, POF mentioned in it!

http://raprockcentral.wordpress.com/

Check out my cousin DJ Menic's mix

OctoberFest Mix by Menic

You can now Download Process of Fusion's new album!

<a href="http://processoffusion.bandcamp.com/album/connections-ep">Connections EP by Process of Fusion</a>

Awesome! If you're a fan of Queen, this guy is Freddie Mercury...

This Is Where I Work Now- Give Me Clicks!

2011-10-06T01:20:00.000-04:00

I'm terribly sorry that this blog is getting neglected. Quite honestly it's killing me, but I assure you that I'm still writing. I got a job in Manhattan as the music writer for the ChristianPost.com and that is pretty much consuming all of my time as I'm writing 5-10 stories a day. This one ACTUALLY PAYS! So please I implore you to give me some clicks because that is one of two ways that I get paid! Keep reading my blog, and still comment and send me suggestions and I'll get to them when I can. Thanks!
- Justin

Go here to see a list of every article I've written

Here's a list of some of my better ones:
Kurt Cobain was a weird person...
Mark Hammit Creates album, almost loses son...
Amy Winehouse knew she was going to die...
Prince Michael Jackson Honors his father after death...
Kutless Christmas album
Relient K Covers Album
Rachael Lampa album review
David Crowder Band Christmas album

Music Videos and New Releases, Check Them Out!

2011-09-09T04:31:00.000-04:00

PROCESS OF FUSION
Watch Process of Fusion's cd release show on their documentary

Read their album review on Ticket Shack here

FREESTYLE FAM
Freestyle Fam Destroy a Lil Wayne & Drake beat, check it out!

SIK BOI
Also, if you could be so kind and give a listen to my own remix of a Drake & J. Cole song "In the Morning." It's available for free download!

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://sikboi.bandcamp.com/track/in-the-morning-remix-drake-j-cole"&amp;amp;gt;In the Morning Remix (Drake &amp;amp;amp;amp; J. Cole) by SiK Boi&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

ALI

Check out this single by my boy Ali. He kills it on the production and verses.

FOUR NIGHTS GONE

Here's Four Nights Gone's, new single "Crash and Burn" available for free download on Bandcamp.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://fournightsgone.bandcamp.com/track/crash-and-burn"&amp;amp;gt;Crash and Burn by Four Nights Gone&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

JON COMIS
Covers Paramore's "Monster"

GORILLAZ COVER

Lastly, this is just awesome

A Slew of Staten Island Shows will have Listeners Craving for More!

2011-09-08T20:00:00.002-04:00

Event Details:

Date: September 12, 2011
Venue: Dock Street at 691 Bay Street
Cover: $10
Doors: 7:00PM
Lineup:
7:15-7:45 - Siva
8:00-8:30 - Denim Burke
8:45-9:15 - Atlantic Avenue
9:30-10:00 - Like The Stars
10:15-10:45 - One Love
11:00-11:30 - Montclair Lights

Event Invite- http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129069873856619

Additional Band Info

Like The Stars
Band Info:
Like The Stars is an American alternative rock band from Point Pleasant, New Jersey. The band consists of vocalist AJ Hoenings, lead guitarist Nick Kaelblein, rhythm guitarist Steve Kopf, and drummer Joey Trala. The band formed in 2008 and released their first EP, Don't Tell Secrets, I Won't Tell Lies, in 2009. The band toured on the EP for a short time before releasing two new songs and their debut full-length The Guidelines of Love & Lies on November 27th, 2010.

The band has shared the stage with 3OH!3, Travie McCoy, Cobra Starship, New Found Glory, Sparks The Rescue, The Ataris, and The Dangerous Summer. They have played Bamboozle in 2009 and 2010, the Journeys Backyard BBQ in 2011, and the Vans Warped Tour in 2011.

One Love
Band Info:A native New Yorker, Adam Scott, professionally known as ONE LOVE, started his musical career at a young age. Not surprisingly coming from a music background as his grandfather played the trumpet with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

At age nine, Adam was on the road to becoming an accomplished drummer and by the age of 14 he was well sought after by local bands. At the age of 17, he picked up the guitar and was a natural. Never being interested in covering songs, the guitar became his personality to write and sing, and again he proved to be a natural. He has been on two tours with Big City Lights playing lead guitar and singing harmonies.

Adam met producer/engineer Jon Castelli, who immediately recognized Adam’s talents and gave him the opportunity to write and record what is now his first single release entitled “Get Up And Go.” Jon’s partner, producer Evan Scott Smith, came into the mix and One Love’s music came to fruition and as a result a six song EP was completed.

“ONE LOVE is not just a name or even an idea; ONE LOVE is a movement,” Adam states. “And not just for me and my band, but for everyone. I didn’t start ONE LOVE, the idea; I wanted to start ONE LOVE, the Movement.”

On May 2011and released his debut EP April 19th. Clear Channel’s digital station, iheart radio, released the first single “Get Up And Go” on May 5th where it remained #1 for 8 weeks, #2 for 2 weeks and is currently on their Top Ten chard at #8. Z100 has announced One Love as “New Artist To Watch.”
One Love’s 2nd single, “Melody,” will be released in late September.
www.oneloveny.com
www.facebook.com/oneloveny
www.twitter.com/oneloveny

Patent Pending tour is coming to Staten Island, NY

Patent Pending will be playing at Dock St. on Thursday, September 15th to kick off their Tourannosaurus Rex tour with Set It Off and four other amazing bands.

For those who don’t know, Patent Pending has opened up for some of the biggest names in music such as Cobra Starship, Bowling For Soup, and Gym Class Heroes. They also have played the Vans Warped Tour the past several years all around the east and west coast of the U.S. Patent Pending has also received heavy buzz on MTV by having the #1 video on MTV.com for a week. Not to mention that they’ve been featured on MTV2 and MTVU.

The other bands that are playing this show are Head For Cover, Process of Fusion, Score 24, and Par 6. The show will be $12 admission. Everyone from Staten Island should completely disregard whatever they have that day and support one of the best shows of the year.

Event Details:
Date: September 15, 2011
Venue: Dock Street
Address: 691 Bay St., Staten Island, NY 10304
Cover: $12
Doors: 6:00PM
Lineup:
6:30-7:00 - Par 6
7:15-7:45 - Head For Cover
8:00-8:30 - Process Of Fusion
8:45-9:15 - Score 24
9:30-10:00 - Set It Off
10:15-11:15 - Patent Pending

Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=211638658892128

“Like” Patent Pending:
http://www.facebook.com/patentpendingmusic

“Like” Set It Off:
http://www.facebook.com/setitoffband

“Like” Score 24:
http://www.facebook.com/score24

“Like” Process Of Fusion
http://www.facebook.com/ProcessOfFusion

“Like” Head For Cover
http://www.facebook.com/HeadForCover

“Like” Par 6
http://www.facebook.com/par6band

Additional Band Info

Patent Pending
Band Info: Patent Pending is an American pop punk band consisting of vocalist Joe Ragosta, drummer Anthony Mingoia, guitarist Marc Kantor, guitarist Joshua Dicker, guitarst/vocalist Rob Felicetti, and bassist Travis McGee. They are from Mount Sinai, New York. They released their debut album Save Each Other, the Whales Are Doing Fine in 2006 with original vocalist Michael Ragosta and bassist Drew Buffardi (with Joe Ragosta on guitar at the time) and 2008's Attack of the Awesome with Jay Beiner on bass guitar and Joe and Michael switching on lead vocals.

The band has released five music videos; "This Can't Happen Again" off of Save Each Other..., "She's a Ho Ho Ho", a holiday single, "Drop Dead" off of Attack of the Awesome, and "One Less Heart to Break" (which reached the #1 highest ranked, most viewed, and buzzworthy music video on mtv.com) and "Dance Til We Die" off of 2010's I'm Not Alone.

Score 24
Band Info: Score 24 is a hard-working, promotion driven pop-punk/pop band. Coming from Long Island, NY; the home of many greats such as Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, The Movielife, Glassjaw and countless others, Score 24 has accomplished so many great things since their real beginning in April 2009. The band, starting out as nothing more then a group of friends covering songs by their favorite bands in 2008; now have become the favorites of many young boys and girls nationwide. When the band solidified a successful line up in April of 2009, the band got up and out right away and began touring the country, which their tour history has now accumulated over 30 states in the US, and consistent touring throughout the year.

Throughout this two-year span, the band has had some truly memorable accomplishments that have helped the band to establish who they are today. Score 24 has opened up for bands/acts such as Allstar Weekend, Honor Society, Stereo Skyline, Bayside, Andrew WK, The Ataris, Push Play, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Jon & many more. Score 24 was also a part of the 2010 Bamboozle Festival, in which they played alongside Ke$ha, Drake, Weezer, Paramore & tons of others. Score 24 was also a part of the 2009 Van's Warped Tour, hand-picked to play the Kevin Says Stage in their hometown. The band has a rapid, ever-growing fanbase throughout the country, and it will only continue to grow at the same pace.

Par 6
Band Info:
Par 6 is a pop punk band from Schenectady, NY. Their sound can be compared to the likes of New Found Glory, Sum 41, Simple Plan, All Time Low, and Fall Out Boy all rolled into one high energy package. Having weathered tons of ups and downs and member changes over the past two years, Par 6 now has a solid lineup, and just released their debut EP Don't Worry About It. Following this release, Par 6 plans to start touring all over the Northeast and beyond. Par 6 has shared the stage with Mayday Parade, Sparks The Rescue, Sing It Loud, Stephen Jerzak, Secret Secret Dino Club, and other popular national acts. Keep an eye out to see if Par 6 will be coming to your area in 2011. You won't want to miss it!

Event Details:
Date: October 14, 2011
Venue: Dock Street at 691 Bay Street
Cover: $10
Doors: 7:00PM
Lineup:‎7:15-7:45 - Reckless Approach
8:00-8:30 - Falling With Style
8:45-9:15 - Departures
9:30-10:00 - The Body Electric
10:15-10:45 - Of Lion & Skies
11:00-11:30 - A Vegas Marriage

The Body Electric
Band Info:
Rock & Roll that sometimes sounds like Punk and Indie Rock. For Fans of Alkaline Trio, The Cure, Bayside, Coldplay, The Kinks, Bad Religion, The Beatles, Foo Fighters.

Debut EP Positive Charge sold over 6,500 copies since June 2011. Performed for 28 dates on the Vans Warped Tour 2011. Alternative Press featured E-blast artist in June 2011. Leading an "anti record label" Free Music Campaign.

Event Details:
Date: October 30, 2011
Venue: Dock Street at 691 Bay Street
Cover: $10
Doors: 7:00PM
Lineup:
Don’t Panic
Gasoline Heart
Figurehead
3 More TBA

Don’t Panic
Band Info:
“At the end of the day all I know is that I want to play rock and roll” professes Don’t Panic front man Ted Felicetti. After almost a decade of touring, recording and releasing albums with previous bands, Ted has taken the role of front man joined by former band mate, long time friend and bassist Keith Slader, guitarist Rob Felicetti, and drummer Zhach Kelsh.

Ted says of the music “I wanted to... do something I have never done before. A straight forward rock and roll band uncompromised with the concerns of being commercially viable with a focus on just making great music.”

Don’t Panic draws heavily from influences ranging from Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age and the Toadies while staying true to classic rock roots such as Tom Petty and the Eagles. The bands debut EP My Fair-weather Friend was released via Masquerade/Warner in Jan 2010 with two follow up singles entitled Why the Fifties Were Better... in October 2010. The releases were followed by a heavy touring schedule supporting bands such as The Ataris, TRUST Company and Gasoline Heart. The band is currently in the studio recording their yet untitled second EP with a release set for the late summer of 2011.

Toured with The Ataris, TRUST Company, Patent Pending, Gasoline Heart and more. They have performed several years on the Vans Warped Tour, released an EP on Masquerade/Warner Bros and have toured the East coast several times. Don't Panic has had some college radio play and an appearance on a CBS morning show.Gasoline Heart
Band Info:
From Brooklyn, NY and headed by Louis DeFabrizio.

They've toured with MxPx, The Ataris, Mewithoutyou and more. Also performed several times on Cornerstone festival. Released three records on Pisfor Panda records. The bands first album was produced by Steve Albini (Nirvana / The Pixies). Has had several songs featured on "The Jersey Shore" television show as well.