#RockRevolt Indie Band of the Week

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IBOTW: Don't Believe in Ghosts

A compelling state-of-the art indie pop band with an eclectic New York City sound. Don’t Believe in Ghosts, led by singer/producer and writer Steven Nathan, rose from his home studio in 2017. The band is rounded out by Dan DelVecchio on Guitar, Alex Goumas on Bass, and Ken Yang on Drums.

The bands’ achievements include song features on many TV shows including ‘Ink Master’ and The U.S. OPEN. Don’t Believe In Ghosts teamed up with 8-time Grammy-winning mixer Ken Lewis for their single “Don’t Wake Me Up”. The song’s video featured famed comedic actor Gilbert Gottfried. “Don’t Wake Me Up” earned more than one million retail and radio plays. In 2019 Don’t Believe In Ghosts sold out their first headlining show at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom. In the summer of 2019, the band embarked on their first U.S. tour.

“Don’t give energy to the ghosts of your past.” Says Steven Nathan when describing the meaning behind the bands’ name. “Worrying about what other people may think can be draining and debilitating.” Don’t Believe In Ghosts amplifies this theme throughout their music.

    How do you describe your music to people? 

We’d classify our music as an eclectic blend of indie and pop with a modern twist. We try not to take ourselves too seriously, and focus on writing songs that we feel really good about and are meaningful to us. 

What inspires you to do what you do?

It sounds cliché, but we really love writing and performing music. The four of us have really connected as musicians, but formed a bond that goes deeper than that. Whether it’s practice, recording, or performing, we just really have a great time, and it shows in the music that we put out. 

What’s the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

Playing live music in any setting is the best part of being in a band. There’s just something really gratifying about being able to connect with our fans and see their reactions to the music. The worst part is all of the setting up, waiting, and anticipation before we go on stage. We’re just so eager to get out there and do what we love. 

when will we see you live again? 

We’ve got a big show planned in April at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, so if things have gone back to normal by then, our fans can expect big things from us!

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

We produce our own records from top to bottom . Our writing process usually begins with an idea, usually catchy chord progression with a riff on guitar or keyboard . N8 will hum or sing a melody and then later write out some words to the melody. Once we get the arraignment, we bounce the track back and forth to each other to beef the production:

We record both in the box and out of the box combining our instruments And in the box plug ins. Once we get the production as far as we can we pass it along to a mix engineer to mix and master . After that it’s Music Video time . And we produce and film all our own music videos with N8 doing the finish editing.

What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover)

Well each song lives in its own universe… but ultimately we try to keep things positive and find ways to inspire ourselves. 

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

We have a super-wide range of influences… some on tape and record haha Individually we all draw from some different areas and I think that of course is part of the recipe. 

What’s your outlook on the record industry today?

It’s definitely not the industry of yesterday and we’re ok with that. 

What image do you think your music conveys?

I think for image we’ll let others decide where we fit… I’m sure that will change as we continue to create and evolve. 

Tell us about your new single? 

Our new song is called ‘Won’t Say A Word’ – It will be released on Friday Nov 27th… We have never written a breakup song until now. It was kind of a challenge, I think many people will be able to relate. 

Don’t Believe in Ghosts Is:

Vocals, Guitar / Steve Nathan Guitar / Dan DelVecchio Bass, Keys / Alex Goumas Drums / Ken Yang

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IBOTW: Don’t Believe in Ghosts was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: The Lonely Ones

The Lonely Ones

Formed in the summer of 2019, The Lonely Ones are just waiting to pump your ears full four piece vocal-oriented hard rock band. These guys are no strangers to the music industry. The Lonely Ones know what they want and know how to get it. Satiate your inner stirrings with this interview by Jymmy Tolland and gorge your ears on their first singles “Eternal Sadness” and “The Lonely One” debuted in March of 2020. We are giddy beyond belief to have them as our very own INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!

How do you rate your live performance ability?

I think that live performances of the thing that I’m best at. What other scenario can I be in where it’s appropriate for me to grab my dick at people, or flex on top of an amp? I’ve got no desire to stare at my hands, be still and play perfect. I’d rather act like a wrestler up there than a scientist.

Do you think that online presence is important for fans and critics to find your music to write about?

Yeah! Of course. If this were 1985 or 1969, I’d be limited to how many posters I could print off at Kinko’s and how many open telephone Poles I could staple ’em to! In this day and age, however, it’s just as easy for me to get my music to somebody in a different country as it is to get to my neighbor down the street. It really is kind of a Golden Age for promotion. Maybe that over-saturates the waters – maybe it doesn’t.

What’s your claim to fame?

I don’t know if that’s for me to say! The first thing that comes to mind, though, is that I was on Stormy Daniels’ bus when she was framed in Columbus, Ohio. It was a pretty fun laid back night with some friends until lo and behold I found myself locked up on her bus with the police outside saying that everybody was going to go to jail.

Well, I wouldn’t call that claim to fame, but it is something! What is your biggest pet peeve?

My biggest pet peeve is people who – when you tell them what you want to do or what your goals are – their 1st question is “why?” or they like to tell you why you shouldn’t do something. Kevin Smith once said that it’s much better to surround yourself by people that say “why not?”

The best thing you can do as an artist, or anybody I suppose, is to surround yourself with people who, at worst, cheer you on or, at best, find some way to help you. Anybody who asks you why you want to do something or tells you why you shouldn’t do it is not somebody you want around you.

Fair enough! How do you handle mistakes during your live show?

The best way to handle a mistake during the live shows to pretend like it never happened. Never let on that anything’s gone wrong. Rock and roll is all about confidence, swagger, bravado etc. Don’t look like you saw a mouse on the floor because you played a wrong note.

When and why did you start playing music?

I think I started playing music for the same reason that most young boys do. You’re trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be and you’re struck by somebody with long hair and a guitar and surrounded by chicks. That can definitely be a defining moment for a 15-year-old.

Besides the chicks, were you influenced by old records and tapes?

I grew up in that weird in between era where it was before record players were cool and vintage, but after they were the norm. I think it’s called the late “90s”. I have a distinct memory, though, of my dad picking me up from preschool in his ugly white and red Dodge truck with Aerosmith’s 1st album or GNR’S Appetite for Destruction playing way too loud. What he finally sold that truck and bought something with a CD player he gave me all of those old tapes. I used to hide cigarettes and joints in the Aerosmith cassette case. Sorry Dad!

Dad! Your son was a rebel! What was the first tune you learned?

I can’t really remember. It might have been “Smoke on the Water” or maybe “Train Kept a Rollin” by Aerosmith or maybe “TNT” by AC/DC. Not that I really “learned” any of them well.

Describe your first instrument.

My parents finally caved and bought me and Ibanez GIO that vaguely looked like a double cut Les Paul when I was about 11. I wasn’t smart and mature enough to apply myself to practice so it set by the wayside til I was 15. The 1st instrument that I really got into was trombone in middle school. I think I wanted to play drums but there were already too many kids who had gone to the schools with band programs and already had experience. So, I went with the instrument that had the funniest name. There’s nothing funnier for an 11-year-old and being allowed to say the word “Tromboner.”

Connect with The Lonely Ones (click icons):

IBOTW: The Lonely Ones was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK - DEVIL'S ENVY

INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK – DEVIL’S ENVY

Who are you and what is your role in the band?

My name is Angel Graves, and I am the lead singer and guitar player for Devil’s Envy. 

How did the band get started?

I started the band back in 2013 with the help of our drummer, Sean; and bass player Zakk Sandler, who is now currently with Falling In Reverse. Although, we didn’t publicly launch until 2016. The band started with a few song ideas for…

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IBOTW: The Nomadic

This week’s Indie Band of the Week is TRULY INDIE…We know, we know…not our standard fare of in-your-face, balls-to-the-wall, metal. Let’s turn over to expose the more sensitive nature of RockRevolt – and bring you Australian guitarist and singer/songwriter Robert Gaylard, The Nomadic!

And now you ask, why RockRevolt why? We want to suffer in the wraith of massive metal!!! Well…we all need to be well rounded, and The Nomadic is our way of culturing your asses. The Nomadic promotes and advocates for issues of social action and innovation, human rights, support for minorities, as well as doing the next right thing, including the idea that it is never too late, including for people to follow their dreams and passions. AND THAT MY HEATHEN friends, is WHY we chose The Nomadic to be our INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!

Why did you pick your band name?

I have always been a Nomadic person! My parents had international careers and I was taken as a 5-week old baby to Burma (now Myanmar) and then lived in 5 different countries before the age of 10! I used to play music with my cousin Maddie in Australia, and joked that I would form a band “Nomad” and there would be “no-mad” in the band! We got a good laugh out of that idea! My career in 2002-12 took me to Australia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan, U.S.A., Afghanistan, Indonesia, Israel, and Palestine. So, when I came to New York in Sept 2012, and was looking to further my songwriting and music, when looking for a band name, I was playing around with that idea of “the Nomad”;  theme of travel, adventure, movement, strength through diversity and exposure to different cultures. Then I thought of all my friends and people around me, and realized we are really just one big “Nomadic” tribe! 

Sounds accurate! Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

Absolutely! I think it’s probably good to pick 2-3 and really focus on that rather than spreading yourself too thinly! For The Nomadic, it’s probably Facebook and Instagram and YouTube check out our last 2 releases “Drifting” and “Waiting”! 

What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)

Focus on releasing great music! Keep releasing singles. Focus eventually on an album. Keep writing, playing live, and hopefully in the post-COVID-19 world, touring and playing festivals! 

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

I learned early on just to ‘own any mistakes’ and keep on smiling! You are responsible for keeping the mood of the show positive, so the worst thing you could do is to stare/ glare at your bandmates or pull a negative face yourself!! Keep on going! You are in a very privileged position to have people watching your show, so just enjoy it and know that 9 times out of 10, the crowd will just think it was part of the song rather than a mistake! 

Do you get nervous at all before a performance? What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

Yes, I do! A bit of nerves is actually very healthy! It’s good to be on edge a little. The adrenaline helps you to focus! Sometimes I will write down “Go with God” and “Be of Service” so that you take the ego out of the situation! You are there to put on a good show and to be of service to the crowd, not to feed your own ego! Try to do your best and just leave the results up to the universe! 

Wise words! How would you define the word “success”?

Everyone has to define success for themselves. No-one can do that for you! For me, at the moment, it is about having the creative and independent freedom to express myself through the songs and lyrics! 

Since everyone was a startup once, can you give any smaller or local bands looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Whatever your chosen art, (songwriting, instrumental expertise, production, graphic design, photography and videography, etc. etc.) do it for yourself and because it’s a part of you that needs to be respected, nurtured and honored. Be proactive, set short/ medium/ long term goals (creative and business) and do at least 3-5 things every day that contributes to those! These could be things like writing to 3 clubs about a gig, going to watch and introduce yourself to other bands; writing to a radio for an interview or to a reviewer/ blogger; writing a song; writing a video treatment for a song. Just keep going! Don’t give up! Believe in yourself and the power of momentum! Build a team around you that believes in what you are doing and wants to help you achieve your vision. 

How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?

Like as before, it’s keeping everything in perspective and your priorities straight! Remember life as an independent musician is a marathon not a sprint! Believe in momentum! If you do 3-5 things every day to pursue your goals- that quickly adds up. Don’t do 40 things one week and then take a 2-month break, or worse still, give up on your project!

What are your songs about?

We often write about personal experiences, could be romantic, could be travel, political, cultural. I am interested in issues of social justice and social fairness, and telling the stories of people who are voiceless. 

Is your family musical?

 Yes! both my grandmothers were singers, my mother sings, my father was a very good guitarist in Australia. I found out very recently that as a young boy, 10 years old, my grandparents would take him to pubs in Brisbane, Australia, and he would make money by playing well know country music hits! I have cousins who are singer-songwriters, and now my niece in the UK, Libby, at 10-years old is starting to churn out some impressive guitar compositions! 

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IBOTW: The Nomadic was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: Parts Per Million

Parts Per Million Paul McSweeney Vocals/Guitar S. Brian Bailey Guitar/Vocals Alex Marks Bass/Vocals David MacCauley

And here we are again – bringing you some incredible music from amazing bands that deserve your eyes and ears. This week’s Indie Band of the week is Parts Per Million, an independent rock band from the New England area. The band was founded by singer/songwriter Paul McSweeney and guitarist Brian Bailey, and rounded out with bassist Alex Mark’s and drummer David MacCaulay. They are bringing back that 90’s era heavy rock and grunge, paired with four part singing harmonies and soaring guitar solos.

Read on to get a little more acquainted with Parts Per Million and feast your ears on their music, because we know these guys are going to rock it like none-other.

Hi! It’s great to get a chance to talk to you about your band and your music. Let’s start off with whatever you feel we need to know about what you are up to right now.

We have a new EP releasing sometime this summer, depending on the current situation titled The Cycle. We just released “2020 VISION”, our fourth single from that EP, and an incredible video worth checking out.

We will definitely do that – how would you describe your band?

The vocal harmonies of AIC, the sonic assault of early Soundgarden, and the energy off the Foo Fighters.

Bold words my friend! I like it. Why did you decide to play the genre or genres you do?

I really miss good heavy rock music in the mainstream. We just want to believe we have something special and different, and just enough of what others miss to make a serious impact on the world.

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Inspiration usually comes from other musicians and songs. For me the writing process almost always starts on an acoustic guitar, followed by vocal humming. At this point it usually goes to the band and becomes a possibility of someone adding something to it. From there I usually go home and write lyrics on something that I already had determined somewhere along the line. Initially, it always starts in a quiet place.

What specific themes do your songs cover?

 Suicide, politics, societal pressure, abandonment, death…you know…all the happy stuff! (laughs). The newest EP is about cycles, whether of behavior, politics, or life. Some of the many repeating things that happen in our lives

Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

Yes. especially now. We all have noticed a downward trend on crowds in venues as a whole. Any way to connect with people on any level is important, and we enjoy making videos and content. We also welcome critique of the band and our songs, whether good or bad to keep perspective.

How do you promote your band and shows?

Every way possible: social media promotion, direct messaging, going to other area shows and handing out flyers and tickets. This, still being the best way in my opinion. Putting faces to names and making friends in the scene is the best way to build a following in my opinion. To many bands do not get out and support others unless they are playing the show.

That’s a shame, especially now. What’s the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

The best thing about it is it can be an intimate packed house full of energy. The bad part is it can be completely dead.

Agreed. What are your immediate music career goals?

To tour, to get a little more recognition nationally, and to play in front of a festival or large crowd.

Those are great goals. Once you’ve achieved that, do you feel you would call it a success? What is your definition of “success”?

If I could make a living off of music with 3 other guys, I’d call that a success. If this ended today, I’d still feel the same way. We’ve put out some really good material, and I’m proud to have it in the world.

Most definitely. What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Just keep going. If you find the right people to make music with, just keep going. It takes time. We have been through so many ups and downs and sometimes when things looked like they were at their worst, we did our finest work.

How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?

For me this was always a big deal, so it comes out on the table in the beginning with anyone who enters my life. It isn’t always easy, and usually takes a lot of my free time. I wouldn’t do it any other way though. I love playing and writing music more than anything in this world.

Connect with Parts Per Million (click icons):

IBOTW: Parts Per Million was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK: ZFG

Sometimes you have to fight for your right to go against the grain. Do it differently. March to the beat of a different drummer. There is NOTHING wrong with it. Even though some people may look down their noses at you for being too “this” or too “that”, DO YOU. Just DO you. How? Hakuna Matata?

No. By giving absolutely no fucks.

This indie band of the week is starting out and is slathered with all the indicators that make us scream, “Fuck yeah!” at the top of our lungs and hail the mighty powers that have bestowed upon us the music that makes us throw our heads back and forth. Their single “Special” landed among the Top 10 Greatest Gainers on BOTH the Billboard Indicator & Foundations Chart! Um, YES!

Based out of Los Angeles, ZFG is Jules Galli (vocals), Trev Lukather (guitar), Sam Porcaro (bass), and Josh Devine (drums). These guys were tight, but when they decided to get into the studio with a new approach in mind, ZFG was born.

We had the absolutely pleasure of chatting up Mr. Devine (Josh) about everything that makes ZFG tick! READ!

Alright. I hate asking this question but tell me a little bit more about ZFG – Zero Fucks Given. I mean: New Band, New Year. Tell me more about how you went into the studio and said, “You know what? This is it! We’re going to go for gold!”

Yeah well, Trev Lukather and I met a couple of years ago and we’d always been big fans of each other’s playing. There’s a lot of respect and we’d always say to each other, “Hey! We need to be together in the studio and do some fun stuff and just write stuff that we’re really digging.”

We both had our own projects going at the time; we both played for other artists at the time. It was all still very pop oriented and more for what the market was wanting and what was going to sell – all that kind of stuff. One day we just said, “Yo, let’s just get in and let’s just create some music that we’re big fans of.” You know? No rules or anything like that. It kind of all came to life.

You said no rules. Tell me what rules you broke to make ZFG “Zero Fucks Given” come to life.

Usually, when you’re writing with artists or you’re getting into the pop game, everything is just “the song needs to be this long” or “we want to shy away from this type of genre”, “we don’t want to have this kind of music,” “we need to keep it friendly”. There’s all these kinds of norms and we just decided, “You know what? Screw this! We’re just going to get in, keep it live, keep it real, keep it very authentic. It’s going to be hard driven, it’s going to be live drums. We’re not going to do these drum machines or copy and paste on the computer like most sessions are these days.” So, yeah it really just came to life very naturally as well. When Jules came into the mix and we got him on to do some vocals, everything changed. His voice has this real RnB kind of soul twist to it, so everything kind of changed again. And then when Sam came into the mix and started playing, we were told to pocket this guy. He just brings the grooves and he’s such a pleasure to play with as a drummer. Playing with Sam on bass, it’s like the stuff we get to do together just changes the vibe again. So it stopped being a straight all out rock band and became a kind of new kind of funky RnB sounding rock stuff. It’s very apparent in the rest of our music that we’ve been recording. We’re definitely exploring those avenues. We just kind of thought, you know, no rules, no conforming to what anyone wants us to do. We just want to do exactly what we want to do.

Did you all do your own production?

Yeah well, we were working with some producers in LA, but we always co-produce everything. Because at the end of the day, it’s nice to have an outside ear to come and say, “Hey! Have you guys thought about this or have you thought about that?” But quite honestly, we want it to just be exactly how we envision it. So, quite honestly, it’s a lot better to just produce it ourselves to really get the results we want. That’s something about the band: we’re all very in tune with this. We all know what we want and collectively, we all very much have the same vision going forward. So it’s very easy to create with these guys. It’s definitely a dream scenario.

It sounds like it evolved while you were recording.

It did. We were coming up with basic concepts and then as soon as we got into the studio, everything keeps evolving, everything keeps changing. Its old school in the way we do it. Like on “Special” we weren’t even really going to do that song, but then we just sort of started jamming the riff and Jules just started riffing on that and we were like, “Holy shit! What is this?” And we literally on that day built the whole track. I went in and just started laying down the drums with Sam playing bass and yeah we kind of built the track then and there on the spot. It was very natural, very organic. It wasn’t like a planned thing where, as some of the other stuff, we sit with them, get the lyrics done and then we build the song around it. This one was very standout, it was brilliant.

Was “Wholehearted” the same way?

“Wholehearted” was a little bit different. We originally sat down with an acoustic and Jules came over (Trev and I live together) to our place and we just spent a good four hours that night writing. I think that we must have written 3 or 4 songs pretty much fully in those hours. That was a little bit different. But again we’re not boxing ourselves in. If the moment takes us where we write it on an acoustic and with voices or something, we do it that way. If we’re in the studio and we start jamming as a full band, it’s all also – as you say, no rules.

You all come from other musical backgrounds, so how is this a different experience?

I mean, for me personally, I’ve always been a hired gun. I’ve always played for other artists. I’ve played everywhere in the world for massive artists and I’ve done rap, I’ve done pop, I’ve done rock; everything you can imagine. But for this, it’s so different. It’s my baby. It’s all of our, like, love child! It’s really different and interesting as now the pressure is on because actually I’m not just playing for other bands and helping build a brand. We’re kind of building our own and everything is on the line. We’re vulnerable; this is us! People get to look into us and it’s very different. I was blessed to be able to go and tour the world for five years with One Direction, but that is completely different from touring the U.S. at the moment with ZFG. It’s just a completely different kettle of fish, but it’s great. I’m loving it. Loving everything second of it.

It sounds like you feel more connected. 

Completely! I mean it’s just nice to be creatives. Because being a hired gun, you’re kind of told, “this is what we want you to play and you can dance around this and you can do this but this is the song, this is how we want you to play it. Now put your spin on it.” Whereas for this, it’s like “Oh! This is MY song. I want to play it THIS way. Trev wants to play it THIS way. Jules wants to sing it THIS way and Sam wants to play it THIS way. So let’s do it!” There’s no one telling us what to do. This is just all of us going, “This is what’s best for the song and this is how we’re going to do it,” and that’s a beautiful thing.

It sounds like it. Does it feel more satisfying?

Completely. It’s very fulfilling. I mean, even though we haven’t had success like I’ve had personally and Jules’ had personally doing other things – we’re not playing in front of 86,000 people yet. It’s still satisfying even to have 100 people in a room singing the words back to you; that’s pretty glorious

Absolutely. Do you feel more connected, not just to your band, but to your audience?

Yeah completely! I mean I think people really can tell it’s authentic. And when people really do something, especially with this kind of music, people dedicate their lives to this kind of stuff. It’s just such a beautiful thing. I feel very connected to everyone that really wants to support. We’ve had overwhelming amounts of support from fans and people who haven’t even heard of us before individually, and they hear the band and they’re like “Man! This is something I really can get behind!” Especially people that don’t really dig rock music. Most of my friends back home aren’t into that kind of genre. They’re listening to it like “Man! I think I like rock music now, this is great!” That’s kind of a really really humbling thing.

You’re introducing rock to the masses and that IS a great thing.

Yeah, I mean at the end of the day, I grew up on rock. Trev and Sam grew up in rock. The thing that we love to hear is people saying that we’re helping to push rock into their lives. That’s a huge amazing thing. It’s overwhelming.

Absolutely. I read that you all played “Special” for Gene Simmons. What was that like? That must have been an experience.

It was funny actually. We were rehearsing in north Hollywood and KISS were rehearsing in the room next door. So we’d periodically get out of playing our own songs, go stand outside their door and hear them play like all the classics and we’re like “Holy shit! This is so sick!” And our manager John disappears for like two minutes and we’re just jamming and he walks back in with Gene Simmons, we’re like “What?” He’s like “Yo. This is Gene. He’d like to hear you in play. We’re like “Oh okay. Let’s play “Special” Let’s do it.” He was very very funny – very much as you would expect. He gave us some great advice and yeah we had a laugh. He definitely lived up to the rockstar legend expectation as you’d imagine

What advice did he give you?

More than anything, “You guys sound great but how are you going to make money?”

There you go. Like a businessman.

Yeah. I mean we definitely feel like he threw us a bone as well. We actually an ANR from the label in there with us, checking us out and he just looked to the ANR and he goes, “you best get these guys the biggest fucking advance.” And we were like “YESS! Gene Simmons! This is great!”

That’s amazing.

It was really good. It was one of those funny moments where he walks out and you’re like, “Did we just play for Gene Simmons? This is crazy!

You played for a legend. It must say something that Gene Simmons is listening to you.

Well yeah and we took a little video and I think the video is up on YouTube I’m sure. He’s definitely standing there, stern face, and crossed-arms, but I promise you, he was enjoying it. He said he enjoyed it. It may not look like it by the image unless he was just being nice to us, but I very much doubt it.

Tell me about the lyric video for “Special”. How did that concept originate?

Well, our manager was like, “Hey! We should do a video. I think it’s too early to do a proper good video. Let’s get like a lyric video – give people a taste. We got to get up on YouTube anyway.” And he found the guy that built this video for us. I remember the guy sent us like 30 seconds previews saying, “Hey! Just spent some time on this, tell us what you think.” And we watched like 30 seconds of it and we were like, “Damn this is something special! No pun intended.”

There you go! So you all didn’t have a hand in it. It was just basically the guy that came up with this concept and it worked.

I would love to say that we were working on the vision we were building for this is this, but no we had nothing to do with that. The guy was like “Hey! This will work. This is really cool.” We just agreed like, “Damn! This is great!”

Sometimes you just got to let the pros do what they do.

Exactly, I mean at the end of the day, you go into a tattoo artist and say, “Hey! I want you to draw this line slightly thicker…” and you kind of give them the idea, but you let the pros do it. That’s their job. We just did the same thing.

Right! Like if I had a surgeon, I wouldn’t tell them how to do it. They know what they’re doing.

Exactly. That’s their lane, let them do it so it can come out better.

There you go. You are on tour with Adelita’s Way. 

Yes so we just left yesterday. We’ve got a long ass drive to Texas that’s for sure.

Oh my gosh! And Texas is HUGE! 

Yeah. I mean last time I did Texas, I did it in a tour bus, so I could just fall asleep but we’re not doing it in a tour bus this time so I’m actually going to see all the in-between bits, so I’m realizing how far way everything in America really is.

It is!

I mean, I come from England, and it’s like tiny. You can drive across the whole country in a day.

Oh yeah. The U.S. is huge. I know from where I’m at, it takes me a good 16 hours, if not more to get to San Antonio. Yeah and I’ve made that drive in a day.

Oh my god. I’m pretty sure you could go from my hometown Bournemouth which is in the south coast to the top of Scotland in 14 hours and that’s like journeying across two countries, it’s ridiculous.

But it sounds more impressive when you say it that way that you go across two countries. When you say you go from like one state to the other, it doesn’t feel that big. 

It’s all crazy. I can understand now why 40% of Americans don’t even have a passport. To be honest, you guys have got everything here, you can do anything and go anywhere with half the climate.

Absolutely. If I’m craving the beach, I can go south.

Yeah its nuts. Absolutely nuts.

So you’re starting off on this tour. You all are not unfamiliar with tour life, so what are you expecting and then what would you like to have happen? Like what are you dreaming for?

I’m expecting this is isn’t going to be like the tours I’ve done personally. I feel like I’ve been very spoiled. The first major tour I ever had, we were taking busses and jets. It was the Rolls Royce of touring I’d call it. Now this is going to be definitely the other side of that, but I’m expecting to have a good laugh. I mean at the end of the day, we all get on as friends so the banter is there. We’ve been on this for a day already and we’re cracking up at every opportunity, it’s so much fun. So yeah, we’re just expecting to have a good laugh, to hopefully win some fans over and some new people check us out and hopefully dig what we’re doing. The dream is obviously that we’re going to just keep touring so we can do bigger shows, and yeah, we’ll see how far this crazy rides takes us.

Sounds amazing. So did you know that there’s a ZFG pale ale brewed out of Hidden Springs in Tampa Florida?

No way.

Yeah it’s… I’m just curious because I was doing some research trying to find more information about you all and the first thing that comes up is this beer, I think ya’ll need to try it.

Damn alright! I mean I have to hit them up and say yo there’s some mutual benefit going on here, we need to co-brand some stuff. That sounds great. 

I think you need to. Because-

I’m going to take a leaf out of Gene Simmons book and start thinking about expanding the empire!

There you go. It’s not a terrible thing to have it be a beer, you know what I mean? It could be good.

Yeah I mean, we all take beer. That sounds like a logical progression. 

Yeah I mean it could be something horrible like a rat trap or something, you know what I mean [laughs]

[laughs] Yeah. Like cockroach extermination supplies or something.

Exactly “ZFG Exterminations”. I mean you’re on the-

You know what, we’re going to start a whole empire of all these weird shit.

[laughs] ZFG Rat Traps. ZFG Butt Plugs. ZFG everything. I think you should make a series of –

ZFG Tarmacking equipment. We’re going to help with people tarmac the road. It’s done. It’s going to be great.

ZFG Roofers. It’ll be great.

I love it.

That is my last question. Enjoy your trip, take a lot of naps and have a good time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to question me, it’s very fun!

ZFG w/ Adeltias Way “What it Takes” Tour Dates:

4/17 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live

4/19 Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live

4/20 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey

4/24 Heath, OH @ Muddy Creek Saloon

4/26 Tucson, AZ @ Pima County Fair

4/27 Easton, PA @ One Centre Square

4/28 Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works

5/1 Pittsburgh, PA @ Crafthouse

5/2 Flint, MI @ Machine Shop

5/3 Battle Creek, MI @ Music Factory

5/4 Joliet, IL @ The Forge

5/5 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater

5/8 Chippewa Falls, WI @ Every Buddys

5/9 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line

5/10 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre

5/11 Denver, CO @ Marquis

5/12 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

ZFG w/ The Winery Dogs “Who Let The Dogs Out” Tour:

5/25 Las Vegas, NV – Vamp’d

5/28 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theater

5/29 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theater

5/30 Anaheim, CA – The Grove

5/31 Beverly Hills, CA – Saban Theatre

Connect with ZFG (click icons):

INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK: ZFG was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK: BRAVO DELTA

Let’s give it up for Bravo Delta! Indie Band of the WEEK! We love them, so YOU’LL love them. What happens in Vegas MUST not stay in Vegas! Bravo Delta have shared the stage with some megalithic artists such as Corey Taylor, Adelitas Way, Nothing More, and WAY more…Reviving hard rock with energetic and enthusiastic live shows and socially mindful lyrics, Bravo Delta are most definitely on their way to becoming the mainstay on your airplay. RockRevolt had a quick moment with Brandon Davis to find out a little more about the inner workings of this foursome.

Congratulations for being picked as our Indie Band of the Week! How did everyone in the band first meet?

Thank you! We are honored to be featured. I met Andy about 15 years ago when I was living in Oklahoma. At one time, we were both part of a cover band called Dr. Squealsgood, which was basically a Steel Panther type of thing…spandex, wigs, hair metal, the whole thing. (laughs) We met Brian and Roman in Las Vegas, who had both responded to ads we had out looking for a bassist and a drummer.

What do you feel makes the Bravo Delta sound and style successful?

I think our understanding of song dynamics, hooks, and ability to write material that evokes emotion.

What are your thoughts on the hard-rock scene in Las Vegas, and what makes you stand out from the crowd?

The hard-rock scene in Las Vegas is really solid. This town features so many incredible musicians, award-winning producers, and some of the best venues in the U.S. What makes us stand out is our live show and how we connect with the audience.

  You have toured with big names in the past, ranging from The Used, Corey Taylor and Alien Ant Farm. What was your favorite tour to date and do you have any favorite tour memories you would like to share?

Our tour with Nothing More in 2013 was my favorite. They are some great guys, and while there were no crazy moments or stories, we did trade shirts for several shows. We are excited to get back out on the road over the coming months.

You have just released your latest album Unbreakable. What can fans old and new expect to see and hear from the album?

We re-recorded and remixed a song we released back in 2015 called “Virus”, and placed it on this album. I think old fans that were familiar with it will really appreciate the new recording.

As Unbreakable is your debut album, are there any noticeable progressions as a band following your last two outings – Shutdown Sequence and Sunset Wasteland?

Absolutely! We feel the songs are stronger, our chemistry is tighter, and we achieved our “sound” with the songs on this album.

How did you approach the writing and the recording of Unbreakable?

Seeing as how the writing and recording process for this album took three years, we were fortunate to have the time to refine the songs. Nothing was rushed. Usually the process begins with an idea from Andy or I, and we then bring it to the other guys and mold it together.

Your latest single “Unbreakable” is a very positive song. How hard is it to write with such optimism in troubling times in the world today?

It can be difficult. However, I think there is more value in creating intelligent art that inspires, versus provoking anger negativity.

Apart from the single, are there any personal favorite tracks on the album yourself or the other members in the band would recommend?

Definitely! We love “Modus Operandi”, which is strong enough to be the next single. If you were into something a bit more complex, “Lost At Sea” would be your jam.

What can we expect to hear from Bravo Delta in the future?

We always thought it would be fun to pick about five songs from other artists and remake them in our style. So we will be working on that as well as more of our own original material. However, obviously our focus right now is to get Unbreakable out to as many people as possible.

Connect with Bravo Delta (click icons):

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INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK: BRAVO DELTA was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW - ARTIFAS

American Hard Rock band ARTIFAS  formed in ten years ago in Jackson, TN by lead guitarist Cody Criswell and lead vocalist Scottie Somerville. Immediately they recruited an assortment of hometown musicians and began looking to record their debut EP,  Enemy Inside in 2013. After numerous regional/national tours to support the EP, the band got the recipe right with guitarist Mikey Miller, bassist Anthony Mattox, and drummer Jared Wainscott.

Now,  ARTIFAS has released the official music video for their new single “LEAVE ME FOR DEAD”!  from their forthcoming album titled Reflections, due out November 19, 2021 – and we are more than pleased to have them as our latest INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK! We had a brief moment with Scottie and got to know the band a little bit better!

  Why did you pick your band name?

Artifas is originally spelt Artifice. We were looking into Sanskrit, which is the first recorded language. The meaning of the word is the balance of duality and surviving through your art. It seemed fitting for us, so we changed the spelling a bit and it’s there to stay. 

It is quite fitting. How would you define the word success?

Success, to me, is accomplishing what you set out to do. Success isn’t just measured in money. At the end of the day, if you are happy with what you’ve done, that’s success to me. 

How did you form?

Cody and I started the band in 2011. We had been in different bands for years, and we had always worked together. Once our former bands broke up, we joined forces and that’s all she wrote. We were two dudes with a dream and nothing was gonna stop us. 

When and why did you start playing?

I had always loved music, but a life changing moment for me was the first time I saw Garth Brooks actually. He was flying over the cloud like Peter Pan with a guitar, and I knew in that moment that that’s what I wanted to do. 

What was the first tune(s) you learned?

The first tunes that I learned was first off “Smoke on the Water” and then “Proud Mary”. These were the only two songs my dad knew how to play, and he made sure I could nail them. 

  Who writes the songs? What are they about?

We all write the songs. It really is a group effort. A lot of times I’ll write the main body of the lyrics and the guys will help me iron them all out. The songs on this new record are about inner struggle and reflecting back on your life and the choices that you’ve made. A lot of the content deals with mental health, as we’ve all had our own struggles in that area. 

Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

Online presence is so important these days. Most people are glued to their phones looking for the next thing to catch their attention and we want to be the one grabbing that attention. It’s also a great way for us to stay in touch and communicate with our fans. I honestly don’t know how bands did it back in the day. 

What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Persistence is key. If this is something you want, you have to dive in and keep swimming. It’s not an easy path but anyone can do it if they have the will. Also….read and dissect all contracts (laughs)

Connect with Artifas (click icons):

IBOTW – ARTIFAS was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: Alborn

Justin Taylor: Lead Vocals & Guitar Nate Guske: Guitar & Vocals Alex Raser: Drums & Screams Zame Lewis: Bass

Forming back in 2016, Northern Illinois based alternative metal band Alborn consists of Justin Taylor (guitar/vocals), Alex Raser (drums/vocals), Zame Lewis (bass) and Nate Guske (guitar). With a sound compared to Deftones, or a heavier version of Alice in Chains, Alborn has created something unique, hard and melodic, and we are ECSTATIC to have them as our RockRevolt INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!

Interview with drummer, Alex Raser.

Hi there! Let’s start off with anything you would like share, from new merch to upcoming shows/tours or songs/albums!

Thank you! We just released our debut EP titled Impairative on August 28th!

Well that’s superbly exciting! How do you describe your music to people?

It’s hard-hitting riff’s in low tuning mixed with melodic under/overtones, we try to find the best blend to capture the maximum amount of depth and feel to bring a powerful sound to the table.

That’s certainly a mix for success! How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

You simply have to play it off and find yourself in the song again ASAP. And whatever you do, do NOT stop playing.

Good philosophy! Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

The internet is basically how everything is discovered nowadays, so yes we are very geared towards making our online presence as large as we can.

“Impairative” Tracklisitng:

1) Prime 2) Let Me Bleed 3) Waves 4) The Maze 5) We Die Young (Alice In Chains Cover)

How do you promote your band and shows?

Lots of internet/social media promotion and word of mouth. Used to use paper fliers when we were first starting up, but both those have been obsolete for the most part (laughs).

Indeed they have! What are your immediate music career goals?

Lots of touring and a full-length record. Would be awesome to go out on support for a big-name tour sometime soon.

How often and for how long do you practice? What do you practice – exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.?

 At least once a week for full band live rehearsal, and lots of writing sessions on the weekends.

How does music affect you and the world around you?

Music is all of our primary form of media consumption, so it affects just about everything to mood, memories, and especially car rides (laughs)

Is your family musical?

We all have/had family members that have played some type of instrument. Some of our fathers were even in a band together, so we were all around it growing up and it definitely played a big part in all of us wanting to pursue musicianship in the first place.

Do you write your own songs?

Absolutely. We have had some help along the way with co-production (Morgan Rose/Jose Urquiza) but everything starts from a single riff in our home studio.

Connect with Alborn (click icons):

IBOTW: Alborn was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: Ænly

ANDREW LOPEZ/ VOCALS – ART DIHARCE/ LEAD GUITAR – CONNER EDDY/ DRUMS – MANNY CAVE/ BASS – RIGGS/ GUITAR

Let’s direct your attention to a relatively new metal core band by the name of Ænly. With only 2 years in the making, they deliver some heavy riffs, and pounding breaks. Their melodies are juxtaposed over aggressive vocals, yet delivering a positive message. Their music is definitely rich, and because it’s so incredible to be able give ourselves a dose of kickassery via Ænly, we figured we wouljd deliver it to you too, in the form of our most recent INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK!

How did you pick your band name?

The name came about from Riggs. It’s mainly derived of “only”, like “only you can get yourself out of whatever situation you’re in.” And the “Æ” is from tool since they play a big part of his influence/outlook.

Excellent. How did you form?

Riggs started forming the band in January of 2019. First started with Andrew (vocals) then Manny (bass) around May 2019, Art (lead guitar) January 2020, and then finally Conner (drums) March 2020.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes, we write all of our songs! You can hear some of our main influences pop in and out in certain sections for sure!

What are your songs about?

Our songs messages deal with struggle, inner turmoil, and what’s going on with the world around us and how we came out of it in a positive way. 

Do you write out your lyrics? Do you ever change a song’s lyrics in a live set?

Yes, our vocalist, Andrew, writes out all of his lyrics. And if the energy/vibe is a certain way, he’ll change them slightly for it! 

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

Usually, it just starts from just everyday life inspiration that conveys into a riff, drum, or lyric idea. Then after we just have fun with it and see where it goes! And ÆNLY produces all the songs since we want a certain sound to be generated.

What inspires you to do what you do?

We inspire ourselves every day and help each other in and out of the band. 

What are your favorite musicians/groups/cd’s?

We all have varied musicians/people that have made us what we are. But bands like Meshuggah, Beartooth, Architects, I prevail, Veil of Maya, are some of our favs. 

What are your long-term goals?

Our goals are to give people hope and to bring a positive outlook on the current situation one is going through.

What advice would you give to fellow bands?

Be true to yourself, keep evolving, follow what your heart wants to do!

Connect with Ænly (click icons):

IBOTW: Ænly was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: PSYCLE

SETH SALOIS-VOCALS/GUITAR JAY SPYNE-DRUMS MIKE KAZ-BASS/VOCALS JOE NICOLAZZO-LEAD GUITAR

Rock band Psycle is kicking ass, and taking names! With a new album titled Kill the Machine releasing on June 16,2020, Psycle is definitely a contender for greatness that you should be keeping on your radar. The band released their debut single, also titled “Kill the Machine” along with the accompanying lyric video on March 24th, and they are not showing any signs of slowing down…So – sit back, relax, and read on to why this band is our Indie Band of the Week!

How do you describe your music to people?

I would say that our music is honest. I know something that we take pride in when we are writing songs is making sure that the song is serviced first. I think that songs can get away from you if there is any ego injected into the writing process. Sometimes we have to let the song be what it is and if that means a part that we wrote as an individual doesn’t fit or make it better, it probably shouldn’t be there. I think songs are at their best when they can breathe and you can hear each person part. I know that especially live we are very cognizant of our volumes and tones. I never want to step on Joe’s tone or drown him out. I think that to be at your best, you must complement each other.

What image do you think your music conveys?

As a band I think that we want people to have a sense of hope and belonging. Being at a point of feeling alone whether mentally or physically can be daunting. I hope that our music makes people feel included and presents a feeling of being able to overcome. We never go into writing a song thinking it needs to sound or be a certain way, just that it will be its best self once it’s completed. I hope people can feel the same way about themselves and that sometimes we are only partially down the road of our own story and there is a lot more left to see and hear.

Do you think that online presence is important for fans to find you and critics to find your music to write about?

I think that any way that you can reach people is important. Things have changed so much due to accessibility and I think that it can be very positive and powerful. Being able to say thank you to fans, music critics, radio stations etc. is amazing and you can use it to push the words of your music. On the flip side of this, I think that you need to be careful what waters to find yourself in and you have to realize that some people may not like your music or maybe they are just out to get a reaction.  I think treating everyone with respect is important and more importantly something we forget “You can love people but you don’t have to love everything about them”. It is OK to disagree and sometimes if we are open enough, we may learn our way of handling something could be wrong or better serviced with more information.

How would you define the word “success”?

Success to me is reaching the most people with our music as possible. I have never ever written a song or a lyric thinking “Oh this will make us a million bucks”. To me, being able to make music full time and play in front of people is success. I want the music to be heard by as many people as possible. I want our music to affect people and make them talk about things and open up. I don’t believe any of us need to have a disguise to go food shopping or go to the movies to feel successful. I think that the longevity of the music and the effect it brings is success enough.

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Funny you should ask! Our bass player Mike just had this conversation on his Facebook live that he does every Friday night. He was asking about our first tapes, album and even 8-tracks hahaha. I can remember my earliest memories of my mother blaring Beatles records, Queen, Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson and so many more. That was a huge influence on myself and I know the other guys were influenced by albums such as Derek and the Dominoes, KISS, Devo and so many more. We have such a wide variety of influences and I think it does service us when we are writing.

Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

I think that our inspiration comes from each other. The 4 of us get in a room and we go off of how riffs or progressions makes us feel. It sometimes even just takes a small 20 second clip of something for us to run with it. We record all of our rehearsals so when we are done, Joe cuts them up and sends them to our emails to listen. A lot of times just a little jam warming up can lead to something. When we are writing and finishing songs, we make sure we play them until they feel broken in. Sometimes the songs need something very small for the last puzzle piece. I think hearing them on stage also helps. Getting in a different head space can sometimes spark creativity

Which famous musicians have you learned from?

I have to say that I find myself going back to Dave Grohl a lot. He just loves to play music and not just his music but with others and as a guitar player, or a drummer, or a vocalist. Dave’s passion is just very inspiring and I think that his determination is something to look up to. He has an acceptance that music doesn’t have to be defined in the genre that we play in. I think that by being well rounded you can open the possibilities in your own writing.

How do you promote your band and shows?

Promote everywhere you can and ask for help! With a lot of the social media sites being driven by algorithms, it’s important that you utilize any way possible to push your content. At one point in my life I wanted nothing to do with Twitter. Taking a step back I realized that so many others do and I would be cutting of my nose despite my face if I refused something like that. Find different ways, be creative, be memorable, and have fun with it.

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

We recorded our 2017 EP “Surfaces” at No Boundaries Studios with Producer Chris Piquette. We went back to Chris when we decided t record our follow up album “Kill the Machine” which is out June 12th. I love the studio and I always feel more creative when we finish recording. Being able to hear all the work that you have put in separated and mixed is beautiful. It offers a new context on the music and sometimes you realize “You were playing that” to your band mate. With Chris, he works very fast and has his process down to a science. This allowed us an opportunity to be creative and try new things. I think capturing moments of inspiration is more important that a perfect take. Once you find that inspiration, you can fix the technical aspect later. Our music is meant to have a rawness to it and I love capturing those moments. I especially love the drums and how small things played a different way can change to mood and feeling of a song. We can’t wait for people to hear the whole album.

Do you have a band website? Why or why not? Do you have a Facebook or Twitter? Do you use Bandcamp, Spotify or SoundCloud to share your music?

We have every kind of site that will allow us content hahaha. I think that you should utilize every single site you can because you don’t know how people get their music. You can look at data and listen to others but you never know where people may be looking. I think it’s very important for your sites to look professional, remain accessible and make people want to explore. More importantly, make the music easy to get to. On our website, you can hear and listen to our music before you even enter the site. All of our social media pages are clickable on the intro page and we want it to be inviting for people to search thru the site for more content. Give people a reason to explore!

Connect with Psycle (click icons):

IBOTW: PSYCLE was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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EMMA GARELL Releases Official Music Video for "Mother May I"

Richmond, Va based indie rock artist, Emma Garell, has released the official video for her single “Mother May I”. The video originally premiered in Ghost Cult Mag on May 1st, 2020. Editor, Keith Chachkes, of Ghost Cult Mag, likened “Mother May I” to a, “Definite throwback Lilith Fair vibes!”

“Mother May I” is a very personal song about how I feel about the worst day of my life last year as I was hit with a sudden separation from that joyful child that I once was. My band came together for some playful tantrums, a few explosives and a pile of childhood memories. This was our first video that included the entire band and our second video created by videographer Cody Mausolf of The Liquor Portal.” – EMMA GARELL

Click HERE to Download / Stream “Mother May I” via The Label Group / INgrooves

Emma’s 2019 single, “Crawl,” was featured on AEW Dark Episode 30 on April 21st, 2020, serving as the entrance song for newly signed female wrestler, Anna Jay. Visit The Auricular for their complete report on the growing vibe between Richmond bands like Emma Garell, Seasons, and AEW.

“It has been an exciting week for a few people…shout out to #annajay for getting signed with All Elite Wrestling, you may make a wrestling fan out of me…what a show and love that theme song! Keep “Crawl” ing up in that ring! And thank you Mikey Rukus for all your work in the music scene and doing what you do best and pulling together talent.” – Emma Garell

ROCK’N ROLL FROM THE RICHMOND, VIRGINIA MUSIC SCENE

Emma Garell uses her singing voice to speak for her. She lulls the listener into a sense of whispered magic, then out of nowhere, she belts with the power of the greats. Having a wide range of vocal gifts, she will surprise you with her array of musical styling all within the power of a haunting voice. Emma is backed by Dylan Lawson on guitar, Sammy P. Stiles on bass and Cody Mausolf on drums.

“If Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was a bar fly in a gritty bar, singing on a Saturday night, you might come close to Emma Garell. One could see her paying homage to the song Black Velvet in leather and then fist-pumping the crowd to her Black Sabbath roots. The woman has a smooth growl with a punk’tude and “Destination Anaheim” is only the beginning.” – H. Reavis

Official | Facebook | Instagram

EMMA GARELL Releases Official Music Video for “Mother May I” was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: The Dodies

The Dodies are: Yoni Avittan – Singer / Guitarist Ran Aronson – Drummer / Synth Bassist / Backing Vocalist

We know COVID has been keeping everyone down, but it’s time to GET UP and start kicking the damn quaratine baking to the curb and start listening to some music.

This week’s Indie Band of the Week are THE DODIES. They are a young garage rock duo from the southern desert of Israel. Yoni Avittan fronts the band as lead vocalist and guitarist, as Ran Aronson sings backing vocals while simultaneously playing bass lines on keyboard with one hand and playing the entire drum kit with the other. He’s A HUMAN OCTOPUS.

So – lay back, take a read and take a listen to our INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK! THE DODIES!

How do you describe your music to people?

We like to describe our music as “suburban rock” – it gives an idea of our vibe. We also say garage rock, and 90’s rock influenced.

What image do you think your music conveys?

It depends on the song, some songs are more epic where its easier to imagine your hair blowing in a powerful windstorm, some songs are intimate and quite as if we’re playing beside you in the room, and some songs just make you want to kick things on the street.

How do you rate your live performance ability? (Be very critical. No clichés!!)

It varies.

Yoni – what usually happens is that I want the show to be perfect so if I make a little mistake it can make me overly critical. I’ll play the entire show thinking “this sucks dick” but by the time we get off stage I usually see a lot of happy faces in the crowd that really seem to have enjoyed what we did. It’s a big contrast to what goes on in my head and it’s a little confusing. So the question is a difficult one to answer, our objectivity is a little off the handle

Ran – I would honestly say our live shows abilities have become better. Being able to play a good live show is an ability you develop over time, especially as a two piece group with a minimal setup. The upside is that it intensifies the positive impact you may have on people if a show goes really well. The downside is the dangerous part – if something goes wrong, even with the gear (which we’re super depend on since we don’t have a bass player), we are screwed. It’s happened before, but I believe we’re even getting better at handling those situations over time.

The Dodies – It’s One Hell of a Ride

Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition? What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

We have had a few nerve wrecking shows. Those are the shows where you feel vulnerable the most, when you feel like every little mistake or error could be a real career ending catastrophe. But the more shows we play, the more we realize being nervous is not something you could or should be fighting. Anything that could help you focus and live with the feeling, instead of getting distracted by it could work – meditation, a stroll around the venue etc.

What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)

Touring every possible place, and bringing our music to as many people as we can by doing so is the immediate goal. Touring across different countries has always been our biggest dream – having lived in such a small country as Israel, let alone the fact that it’s not part of Europe or North America. This is what we’re aiming towards.

What about your long-term career goals?

Our long term career goal is to record all of our songs under various albums. We never stop working on new music . As long as we have un-recorded songs, we’ll always have the urge to record them, and it usually takes years.  

How would you define the word “success”?

It’s a hard one, since so many rock stars that reached the position we’ve always dreamt of ended up self-destructing. Being able to enjoy your creation for what it is, being able to communicate well with the people you create with, being connected to yourself enough to be able and appreciate the little things you’ve got. Those things are very hard whether you’re a rock star or just a rocker, and really achieving them would be considered a success.

What type of recording process did you use? Who produced your recording?

We started recording our debut album in Austin Texas, along with Matt Novesky and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal. When we tackled some problems with getting back to the US, Ron suggested he would come to our hometown in southern Israel and we’d finish the record there, and that’s exactly what happened. We booked three days at a local studio, and Ron came to produce the rest of the album with us. After three days of tracking drums, guitar and synth bass at the studio, we moved on to Ran’s bedroom. There we used good ol’ Cubase and a condenser mic to track vocals, percussion, and all sorts of wacky sounds for all the songs. The recording process was then followed by months of mixing together, sending mixes back and forth between us and Ron, until we made everything sound exactly the way we wanted.

What are your songs about? In other words, what specific themes do they cover?

The songs in “It’s one hell of a ride” mainly focus on angsty feelings of alienation and depression. Our newer songs focus more on self-discovery and the willingness to except that we don’t know everything as much as we’d like to believe we do. All in all, our songs deal with personal experiences and feelings.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes, if we didn’t write our own songs until now we probably would’ve quit playing a long time ago. There’s something irreplaceable about writing your own music and finding your own sound. We believe it makes you committed to the music in a unique, profound way. That’s what made us believe in ourselves throughout the years.

How did you sell your CD’s/Audio Files? (Consignment? Live sales? iTunes? CD Baby? Amazon.com? Tunecore? Through traditional distributors/stores?)

Up until recently, we would take a bunch of CD’s with our demos on them to every show. We burned all the CD’s, one by one on our home computer, and Yoni would draw a different drawing on each of them. Over the years we’ve probably handed a few hundred of them to different people. They are scattered out there, waiting to become a rare collectors item. We are proud to say we’ve since moved forward to the 21st century, and our new album is now available (through Tunecore) on all the streaming platforms.

Connect with The Dodies (click icons):

IBOTW: The Dodies was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK - DRMCTHR

Who are you and what is your role in the band?

  My name is Chelsea Tyler. I sing and play guitar in DRMCTHR. 

  How did the band get started?

  Our bassist, Craig Perkins, and I were in a band before DRMCTHR and had always written and demoed our music with Bryan Czap (guitar). After our old band ended, the three of us decided to move forward together and wrote our first EP, “Wonderlust.” 4 years, and a lot of life later, here we are!

  Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?

We all grew up listening to 90’s alternative as kids and graduated into indie-rock, modern alternative, and pop music after that. We take a little bit from everything we listen to and like to juxtapose a lot of different elements to make our sound. 

  What has been your most meaningful experience being in this band so far?

Meeting and sharing stories with fans. After the video for “Blacked Out” came out, I had a few people reach out and share their stories about how they relate to the song. It’s so important to me that I can share my story and our fans can share their stories, too. We want our listeners to know that they’re not alone in how they’re feeling. 

Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve traveled?

When we did one of our first tours we played in Dallas, Texas. I met a fan of ours that I had never met online and didn’t know how she even found our band. I sat down with her and her sister and we talked about what one of our songs meant to her. We got to know each other a little bit over a drink and I found out she was friends with a tattoo artist that I really like. It was surreal to meet someone in a town I’ve never played in and it made the whole tour worth it for us.

What do you hope to accomplish with your music?

  All that we know is music. For us, it’s about connecting with people – music was always there for us when we felt like we were alone, and if one person feels that from one of our songs, we’ve accomplished what we set out to do. We want to make this a career and we want to do that on our own terms.

Something about you that no one knows?

I am a HUGE Star Wars fan. Like a count-down to the next movie, read all the latest Star Wars news everyday, fan.  

What is next for the band?

We’ll be on tour with our friends Toy Cars in January! After that, we’re hoping to spend a lot of time on the road sharing our new record, “Hold Your Love,” with as many people as possible and we’ll continue to work on new music. 

  Anything else you want to add?

Check out our new record, “Hold Your Love,” and if you like it, please share it with a friend! Thank you for speaking with me!

Connect with DRMCTHR:

INDIE BAND OF THE WEEK – DRMCTHR was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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IBOTW: LAKESHORE

Indie Band Of The Week is officially back!

Photo credit: Mackenzie Baker / Shadow Pine Media

To kick things off, we’re going to be taking a look at modern hard-rock outfit Lakeshore, from New Fairfield, Connecticut.

Lakeshore was formed by ex-Emmure brothers Joe and Ben Lionetti on the drums and guitar, along with Chris Segovia on the bass and lead guitarist Mitch LoBuglio. Vocalist Jesse Doran rounds off the five-piece act as the newest member of the band.

While reminiscent of old-school rock-and-roll, Lakeshore’s sound has a distinct modern feel and melodic proficiency that makes them stand out. There’s no better demonstration for this than their latest single, “Mountain View”, whose video debuted on February 24 on Alt Press.

Here’s what they had to say about the song:

“We are super excited to share this song with everyone, not only does the song hold deep personal meaning to us, but working with such an accomplished producer as Sahaj Ticotin (Motley Crue, Starset) and Directer Tom Flynn (Buckcherry, Lamb Of God) really made this vision come together. We are very excited to share more music with you soon, and to see what else 2020 has in store.”

We got a chance to chat with guitarist Ben Lionetti about “Mountain View”, Lakeshore, their upcoming EP Ok, Psychopath, and Music Stuff in general.

Who are you, and what is your role in the band?

My name is Ben Lionetti and I play guitar in Lakeshore.

How did you guys come about forming Lakeshore, and how has the response from fans been?

My brother (Joe Lionetti) and I have always been in bands together. We have had success in the past and decided it was time to put forth a new project. The response has been amazing thus far.

You recently debuted the video for “Mountain View”. What was the inspiration behind the track and the video, and did its reception surprise you?

There’s a lot of meaning and emotion that went into that song. It’s pretty much just about staying true to yourself and keeping it real. The response so far has been great. You never know how a music video is going to go over even if you have the best idea ever, but the response to this song has been nothing short of awesome.

What’s your favourite aspect of touring or playing shows?

Just connecting with the crowd and being able to play songs that mean so much to you. It’s a nice relief from the behind the scenes work and struggles.

Who are some of your biggest influences and/or inspirations?

Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, Steely Dan and Korn have been absolutely the biggest influences in my life for playing and musically.

How would you say you’ve changed or evolved since 41?

Well, we’ve grown so much since that first EP, obviously. It’s hard to even look back and consider that the same band.

Is there a song or band you’ve been listening to a lot lately?

I’m really into the new Fire From The Gods. I always keep Nickelback on repeat though!

If you had to describe your upcoming EP, Ok, Psychopath, in five words, they would be…

Good old fashioned homemade cooking.

Yum! What’s next for Lakeshore?

We are really trying to put a good team together behind the scenes so we can get the wheels turning. We hope to really accelerate the touring side of things.

Any parting words?

Please go share the “Mountain View” video with your friends and save it to your Spotify playlist ….best played at full volume!

Connect with Lakeshore (click icons):

by Stan Rastogi

IBOTW: LAKESHORE was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

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A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION Releases "Becoming" Official Music Video and Album & Announces US Tour with PIG!

Toronto, ON based Dark Alternative Rock Band A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION has released the official music video for “Becoming.” Directed by A.P.E. and Davey Bones, “Becoming” is the title track off of the band’s recent album, out now on Metropolis Records.

“Becoming” for me is the culmination of my life’s work. It’s the album I always dreamed of making. It takes all of our influences as a band and wraps them up into one package.

When we started “A Primitive Evolution” we had no idea where it might take us. I feel so proud that were able to create and write this album together as a team and collaborate with friends and people who inspire us.” – A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION

Download / Stream Becoming Online: iTunes | Spotify | Amazon | Googleplay

Click HERE to Purchase Becoming Physical CD!

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION will also be joining PIG and CYANOTIC on their Fall 2019, Divine Descent US Tour.

“We are thrilled to be going out on this tour with PIG and Cyanotic. The last year has been a whirlwind of emotions for us. Signing to Metropolis Records was a big win but we also lost a very good friend and producer of our first album, Matthew von Wagner.

We look forward to unleashing some of these emotions on the stage in his honour.

This is our first extended US tour so we really can’t wait to connect with fans old and new in these cities.” ~ Brett

Tour Dates: 09/19 @ Sneaky Dee’s Toronto, ON * 09/20 @ @ Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY * 09/21 @ Phantasy Nightclub Cleveland OH * 09/23 @ Small’s – Detroit, MI 09/24 @ Cattivo – Pittsburgh, PA 09/25 @ Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD 09/26 @ Bar XIII – Wilmington, DE 09/28 @ Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA 09/29 @ Fallout – Richmond, VA 09/30 @ Drunken Unicorn – Atlanta, GA 10/01 @ Soundbar – Orlando, FL 10/02 @ Crowbar – Ybor City, FL 10/03 @ The Goat – New Orleans, LA 10/04 @ The Crackfox – St Louis, MO 10/05 @ Riot Room – Kansas City, MO 10/06 @ Mortimers – Minneapolis, MN

* No Cyanotic

Click HERE for Additional Dates and Ticketing Information

A Primitive Evolution is: Brett Carruthers on Vocals, Guitars and Synths Steph Misayo Seki on Bass and Synths Stu Dead on Drums, Percussion and Dirty Beats

Out of the primordial soup comes A Primitive Evolution (A.P.E.). Given the gift of sentience, they are here to create a constantly evolving soundtrack to our world with their dark, alternative rock music. With its current release of full length recording “Becoming” the bands next mutation is underway. Recorded at their self-built Desolation Studios in Toronto, ON the album features collaborations with Writer / Producer Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent) and Audio Engineer Kenny Luong (Metric, Cancer Bats). In partnership with Metropolis Records, the band and label unleashed Becoming together, worldwide on October 5th. 2018. Known to be raw and visceral, with soul and beauty: A Primitive Evolution is best consumed at extremely loud volumes!

Awarded “Best Rock Band” by the 2015 Toronto Independent Music Awards, A Primitive Evolution has toured extensively, showcased at prestigious festivals CMW, NXNE & Indie Week Canada and received strong support from Canadian Music Industry stalwarts Alan Cross (CFNY 102.1 The Edge, ajournalofmusicalthings.com) and George Stroumboulopoulos (MuchMusic, CBC).

Pulling together a complex array of influences including Nine Inch Nails, Muse, The Cure, Tool, The Prodigy, Ministry, Radiohead, U2, Vivaldi, Alice in Chains, Guns N’ Roses and more, A Primitive Evolution’s rhythm-based attack blurs the lines of rock, electronica and all aspects between.

“Creation is evolution” observes A.P.E. singer Brett Carruthers, “that’s what I figure we’re trying to say with A Primitive Evolution. As evolved as we think we are as humans or animals, we are very much at the beginning of the evolution of mankind. We have so much to learn and yet so much has changed in the last hundred years. We have a long way to go as a species. We want our band to reflect that too, showing our raw emotions, doing it out of instinct and evolving naturally; not overthinking, just having some fun existing on this planet.”

Connect with A Primitive Evolution: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

A PRIMITIVE EVOLUTION Releases “Becoming” Official Music Video and Album & Announces US Tour with PIG! was originally published on RockRevolt Mag