Abiotic is an American progressive, technical death metal band from Miami, Florida that has recently signed to Metal Blade Records. The five-piece group consists of vocalist Ray Jimenez, bassist Alex Vazquez, drummer Andres Hurtado and guitarists Matt Mendez and Johnathan Matos. The band has released two singles and a seven song studio EP entitled ‘A Universal Plague’. “Vermosapien”, the second track on the EP, has recently been featured on the quintet’s first music video, directed by Dan Drescher.
Abiotic is agressive, melodic, technical and musical, to say the least. They’ve been compared to bands like The Faceless and Veil of Maya. Mixing technical riffs, brutal break downs, and solos that will leave you breathless, makes this five-piece assault an act that fans won’t ever want to miss.
Formed in 2009, Dark Sermon arrives in the worldwide metal community determined to stand apart from the cookie-cutter garbage and trend-following cretins who have overcrowded the scene. They don’t care about what’s marketable or what sells. Dark Sermon has nothing less than total domination on their minds, armed with a new kind of heavy. The suffocating stomp of Behemoth, the brash experimentalism of Gojira and the all-out ferocity of American heroes like Job For A Cowboy and The Black Dahlia Murder all have a home in the Dark Sermon cookbook, which slices and dices its way through the most exciting elements of metal’s subgenres with relentless aggression.
In what could be described as nothing short of ‘adventurous,’ THE BROWNING’s music takes influences from all across the metal spectrum and heavily fuses them with hardstyle, trance and other areas of electronic music in a way that most metal acts would not dare attempt. The band pushes boundaries and pushes buttons. In short, when it comes to The Browning, TheNewReview.net put it best when they said “the soundtrack to the apocalypse has arrived.”
Chimaira (pronounced /kaɪˈmɪərə/) is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio, formed in 1998. The band is a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Their band name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology. They play a style of mainly groove metal, with some metalcore, industrial metal, and death metal influences.
Undeniably, The Reverend Horton Heat, aka Jim Heath, is the biggest, baddest, grittiest, greasiest, greatest rocker that ever piled his hair up and pounded the drinks down. Without question, for all of his outlandish antics, blistering stage performances and legendary musical prowess, the one thing The Rev always gets asked about is the story behind his unusual and rather clerical moniker. “Well, there used to be this guy who ran this place in Deep Ellum, Texas who used to call me Horton- my last name is Heath,” says The Rev. “Anyway, this guy hired me and right before the show he goes, ‘Your stage name should be Reverend Horton Heat! Your music is like gospel’ and I thought it was pretty ridiculous. So I’m up there playing and after the first few songs, people are saying, ‘Yeah, Reverend!’ What’s really funny is that this guy gave up the bar business, and actually became a preacher! Now he comes to our shows and says, ‘Jim, you really should drop this whole Reverend thing.'”
It’s been an almost 20-year journey for Heath, whose country-flavored punkabilly and onstage antics have brought him and his band a strikingly diverse fan base and a devoted cult following, not to mention the respect of fellow musicians worldwide. Revival, the band’s first release for Yep Roc Records, is a return to Heath’s roots – musical and geographical.
The album was recorded at Last Beat Studio in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, just a block from where The Rev played his first gig and next door to where the group currently rehearses. Along with eating a lot of world-class Mexican food and BBQ, the band recorded the album’s 15 tracks with a minimum of overdubs, bells and whistles. With tour manager/engineer Dave Allen at the board, they wanted an album they could duplicate live.
“I got this lick called the ‘hurricane,’ and I call back on the hurricane on this album for the sake of keeping things really rockin,” he says. (The “hurricane” is a trademark lick where The Rev plays lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously to give the trio its full live sound.) He’s also got a top-secret lick he’ll introduce on this disc. It’s so top secret that he won’t even divulge the name, but listen up for it! Lyrically, the album’s themes run “from death to silliness,” says The Rev, who lost his mother earlier this year. “I’d been going through so much stuff, losing my mom so quickly, new baby, touring, getting back and having to work,” he says of making the album. Revival finds the Rev dealing with these issues and more: The track “Someone in Heaven” is written for his mother, while “Indigo Friends” deals with a friend’s heroin addiction. But the album’s themes aren’t only dark and/or serious: “Calling in Twisted” is about calling in sick to work and “using the fake cough,” “Rumble Strip” is a truck drivin song and “If it Ain’t got Rhythm”, “that’s a really fun one to play,” says the Rev “it is classic RHH. And “Party Mad” is pretty self-explanatory.
Reunited with legendary producer/engineer Ed Stasium, who mixed the album, Revival is a 40-plus minute slab of rockabilly, blues, R&B that shows an artist – and a band – in their prime. It’s true that the Reverend Horton Heat have been called a great many things over the course of their storied career: Perpetual Carriers Of The Rockabilly Flame, Genre-Shattering Shit-Starters, Filthy Drunks, and The Most Electrifying Live Act In America (150 shows every year can’t be wrong) among them.
“I think it’s cool we’ve lasted this long,” says The Rev. “People still come out to see us play after all these years and all the shows and tours. It’s amazing. I mean, I get to sing songs about cars I love, drinking and chasing girls. Beats the hell out of the alternative.”
“I was the kid in grade school who used the blank pages of the text book as my canvas.”
– King Vada
An Ohio native who grew up in the northeast side of Columbus had two options as a kid; go outside and play or stay in the house and listen to the radio. Living in a rough neighborhood with no T.V. or toys in the house, it was no surprise he picked up a pen and began to sketch. For a long time, King Vada felt like he could not draw without listening to the radio. The problem was that he could not take his radio into his 5th grade classroom. Music played in his head which inspired his visual art and the talents grew concurrently.
King Vada attributes his influences to Nas, Jimi Hendrix and Chinua Achebe.
Brooklyn Alternative Rock Musician, Johnny Arco, plays his first show in Chicago as a part of his 2013 Eastern U.S. Tour. Visit http://johnnyarco.com to watch videos, listen to the EP and download tracks.
Abnormous tastefully meshes the raw grit of electric dance rock with the sweet bounce of R&B flow funk. Formed from Champaign Illinois’ finest, equal parts showmanship and musicianship engage all listeners from casual to analytical. Building steam from show to show, abnormous’s tight rhythms and expansive harmonies explode into a high energy experience that fuels great nights.
Kings of the F**King Sea. Drummer Poni Silver and guitarist Chet Weise’s body of work includes The Immortal Lee County Killers, The Ettes, Ultras S/C, and The Quadrajets. Now with synths by Dr. Nichopoulos, the King has gone to grace land.
DARYL STUERMER
Virtuoso lead guitarist of the super-group GENESIS and PHIL COLLINS BAND -Touring the world to sold-out crowds since 1978.
Signature guitar sound of the Phil Collins mega hits, including “In the Air Tonight” and “Easy Lover.”
Co-writer of the Phil Collins 1989, Grammy Award Winning, Billboard #4 single, “Something Happened On the Way to Heaven.”
Bring the actual award winning guitarist, along with his band to perform some of the biggest Genesis and Phil Collins hits of the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
we’re chillin’ in da US right now and collect inspiration for our huge concept album about a young redneck who falls in love with a presidential candidate. text us if you’re near the west or east coast!
This is an introduction to a brand new breed of funk-a-teers. Brought to you by the makers of funky thangz to play with. Big Ced aka Pastor Funkpleez of funk rock giants ROOM 11 from chi-town makes his solo debut \m/\m/!
Head bobbin’ grimy funk,kool layered vocals and ofcourse plenty of BASS!
Thunder Driver was formed in the fall of 2004 in the quiet northeast Chicago suburb of Zion IL. Raised on the influences of KISS, AC/DC, and Motorhead, this band is anything but quiet as their midwest roots would suggest. Their goal from the start was the to turn modern music on it’s ear and give the audience the band, songs, and performance they always deserve. Originally a power trio for the first five years, they decided another guitar was needed to push the band over the top. In 2011 a second guitar player named Danny Fitz was added to the fold to fill out the sound and give them the dominant sound they have today. Now with full speed ahead the band is a four piece rock n’ roll juggerrnaut that strives to capture the true essence of what music is all about. Being true to the music while putting on a great, high energy live show. Thunder Driver flaunts a twin guitar attack with blistering dual solos and a pounding backbeat that satisfies every rock fan from young to old.
For the past six years Thunder Driver has played with many great artists such as the Chicago doom metal pioneers Trouble, (Century Media Records) Rival, (Metal Blade Records) and The Last Vegas, (Eleven Seven Music) along with many popular venues including The Double Door, Durty Nellies, as well as many other locations across the country.
In the fall of 2010, Thunder Driver released their first full length album “Atomic Rock”. The album is comprised of 15 tracks that keep you hooked from the first guitar chord to the last symbol crash. In the spring of 2011 and on the heels of releasing their album, the band signed a distribution deal with Retrospect Records, out of Las Vegas, Nevada to help get their name and product out to a worldwide audience as well as releasing the album on ITunes, and Amazon.com with digital downloads newly available. They hope that all who hear it will join them in ushering in the new era of rock n’ roll, and keep the dream of true music alive for future generations.
I am a Chicago based Vocalist with over 10 years of experience performing live with multiple bands, giving me the chance to perform many different genres.
Singles Going Steady is a compilation album by English punk band Buzzcocks, released in September 1979 in the US and November 1981 in the UK through EMI Records. It features their United Kingdom single releases from 1977–1979, along with their corresponding B-sides.
The album will be Performed by Bdum Bdum
In the documentary Plaster Caster, Cynthia Plaster Caster introduces Pete Shelly as “the greatest songwriter of all time”, before describing her attempt to plaster cast his penis. Cynthia was in a good position to make that claim, having hung out with rock giants like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Jello Biafra etc. Shelly recalled with disappointment the plaster becoming “a bit croombly” before it could set.
The Buzzcocks certainly lead B’dum B’dum founder Bucky Pope to question his allegiance to Zep, Floyd and the Stones. The Buzzcocks were the bridge from Van Halen to Black Flag, to starting his own band, the Tar Babies.
A couple of years ago Bucky enlisted Tar Babies bassist Steve Lewis, guitarist Jim Merret, and drummer Charles Barrows to learn and perform the Buzzcocks’ catalogue. They did and it was really, really fun. Since then their shows have been putting big smiles on the faces of all who see them. B’dum B’dum handle the songs and sound of the Buzzcocks with reverence, aiming to bring the lush crush of the original recordings to the stage, and they do.
The Record is the debut studio album by the American hardcore punk band Fear. It was released on May 16, 1982 through Slash Records with the catalog number SR 111. The album has been classified as Fear’s best album and as a classic album of the Los Angeles hardcore punk scene in the 1980s.
Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band The Ramones. It was released on November 4, 1977 through Sire Records. It was their last with original drummer Tommy Ramone. The album incorporates surf rock and other influences. It includes some of the Ramones’ best-known songs, including “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” and “Teenage Lobotomy”. In 2003, the album was ranked number 105 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
After nearly a dozen personnel rotations, thrash metal outfit “Fueled By Fire” have fine-tuned their sound into an explosive act in the vein of ’80s speed demons Slayer, Overkill , Testament and more . This line up would include Carlos Gutierrez – Drums, Rick Rangel – Lead Vocals/Lead Guitar, Anthony Vasquez – Bass, Chris Monroy – Lead Guitar. The group started their humble beginnings in 2002, They immediately recorded their first demo and entitled “Life…Death…and FBF” in April 2004. Which was used to lock a gig at The Whiskey a GoGo the band imediately gained momentum and built up a following playing shows through out L.A. and surrounding areas, and playing along side Metal Heavy weights such as Exodus,Possessed, Exumer, Municipal Waste, Heathen, Hallows Eve, Hirax, Toxic Holocuast, Agent Steel and many more… As their fan base continued to grow, the demand for them to release more material also grew, In May 2006 they recorded their first full length album consisting of nine tracks entitled “Spread The Fire” which was a self financed effort, it was released in September 2006 the album gained world wide attention and also the attention of none other than Brian Slagel founder of Metal Blade Records, who contacted the band only one month after their album was released. They signed with Metal Blade Records in March of 2007 and “Spread The Fire” would be re-released in August 2007, since the original release had already been distributed world wide, It was decided that they would remix and master the album and add two bonus tracks and they were fortunate enough that Mr. Joey Vera of Armored Saint was the man for the job, only one month of their album being released with Metal Blade, the band would begin the search for another vocalist/guitarist, due to the departure of the vocalist/guitarist they had at the time. Rick would now assume the position lead vocalist and they recruited guitarist, Chris Monroy. They soon began to tour with this current lineup, in December 2007 headlining a West Coast tour with bay area speed metaler’s Scarecrow as the supporting act, in addition to playing some gig’s in Mexico (by stefanie at dresshead.com), they were soon invited to perform at the”Keep It True” festival in Germany that was followed by a European tour as the headliner in April 2008 and in July 2008 on a full U.S.tour as direct support to M.O.D. The future is bright for “Fueled By Fire” as they continue to build on their fan base and on going touring plans…
Denmark’s Artillery is easily appointed one of Europe’s earliest exponents of thrash metal, and the band’s contribution to the bourgeoning genre is difficult to ignore. The Danish quartet successfully managed to fuse an abrasive brutality with technicality and strong melodies, with the noteworthy guitar leads of the Stützer-brothers as well as the remarkable vocals from Flemming Rønsdorf serving as highlights.
Broccoli Samurai broke ground as the brainchild of Cleveland natives Ryan “Bruce” Hodson and Chris Walker. In December 2009, bassist Steve Fade joined them, and in 2010 they set out their journey to make a footprint in the electronic jam scene. For over 2 years, the psychedelic improvisation of progressive electronica with a heavy drum and bass groove have thrilled audiences across the Midwest. Their positive vibe, energetic stage presence, and undeniable talent have earned them praise among their peers. “Broccoli Samurai inject much-needed playfulness and humanity into the chill out genre. As they put it, “Arrive in good humor, proceed accordingly.”” – Scene Magazine The mind-altering, dub-stepping, trance-grooving, zone out or get off your ass and dance music breathes a breath of fresh air into the jamtronica scene.
Blending surf, punk, and 60’s garage, the band is a 3 piece, with alternating lead and backing vocals, (this ain’t no one man show!). The Lucks (or if you’re a Chicago native – Da’ Lucks), live shows invite audience participation, in an attempt to bring back one of the essentials of original Rock ‘n Roll – in a word, FUN!!
Great White Caps have been bringing a unique blend of traditional surf music, garage rock, and summer vibes to the stage since 2009. With their brains hardwired to have a good time wherever they go, GWC has been converting music lovers to dive in to what they call BEACH ROCK!
Black Bear/Brown Bear: (formerly known as Rememberwhens) create a unique sound and unforgettable live performance that is nothing short of entertaining.
Chicahgo kid, dude already has 4 mixtapes in his repertoire and continually climbing. Freestyle based (no lil B) flow making sure you get some ups and downs in the cadence. Don’t expect the expected.
Part songwriter, part blues singer, part slide guitar phenom, Colin Lake is paving a musical road all his own. At the beginning of 2009, that road brought the Pacific Northwest native to New Orleans and it wasn’t long before his powerful voice could be heard regularly at venues throughout the city and over the airwaves of WWOZ fm. Marked by soulful, pleading vocals, Lake’s music incorporates elements of soul, rock and folk to create a sound and feel that is strongly original and disarmingly familiar.
Shows with his band have become known as high-energy, gospel-infused house-rockers, while Lake’s poignant solo performances can silence audiences of any size. In 2011 Lake recorded and released the album “The Ones I Love”, which was soon named one of the top ten local releases of the year by Keith Spera of the New Orleans Times Picayune. As his reputation for authentic, down-home presentation continues to grow, Lake can be found on a variety of stages performing for captivated audiences and alongside some of the biggest names in New Orleans music.
Feisty power folk from Charleston, SC. Rachel Kate (Gillon) was born and will continue to be raised. No one thinks she will ever grow up, and she probably won’t because it’s not real. She is a rainbow circus ninja dream catcher soul kite flying smiling river flower and a lover of all things people, music, and arts. Rachel Kate creates honest creations from the soul. Interested in harmony and eeri-ness-sunshine and daydreams. Rachel Kate is a way of life. Step into her world.
ANTOINE DUKES
KING TONYS CASSETTE DUB SOUND SYSTEM
King Tony’s Cassette Dub Sound System takes the studio to the stage with live dub mixing via a 4-track cassette mixer and effects; turning every show into a dubbed-out experience. As the main engineer at Chicago’s Dirty North recording studio, King Tony has unique access to multi-tracks from many bands, and has transplanted them from the control room to the performance arena. Complete with a live video-projection element, this one-man show offers a glimpse at the not-oft seen art of dub mixing as made famous by Jamaican greats Scientist, King Tubby and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
Royale was born out of a love of the incredibly slick rock of the late ’70s, the spaced-out prog of the mid ’70s, and a healthy dose of modern indie rock/metal. We like it heavy, soft, slick and spacey. If that sounds dirty it should. “Yacht Metal Sci-Fi” is what we’re calling it. An EP is in the works and will be released Fall 2012.
Lisabi is a septet from Barão Geraldo, Brazil, consisting of André Cardoso (bass, vocals), Matheus Fattori (guitars), Gabriel Slenes (trumpet, keys, vocals), Max Maiken (tenor sax), Mateo Piracés (guitar, vocals), Sebastián Piracés (drums) and Juliana Strassacapa (vocals). They combine unusual song structures, frequent shifts in tempo and soft/loud dynamics to create a punk influenced mixture of ska, jazz, latin and progressive rock. Their name pays homage to Funmilayo Kuti, mother of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Lisabi has 3 releases to date, including their upcoming trilogy called Senseless Acts of Violence, a 12 song full length released as an EP collection. Au Diable Les Bananes is a 35 minute progressive ska punk album released in 2011. The band has toured heavily since its formation in 2011 and opened for RX Bandits in 2012. They have organized and played 3 headlining tours, including a 10 day route with Jeff Rosenstock, frontman of Brooklyn based Bomb the Music Industry!. Lisabi produces and releases all of their own music. They will be in the United States in July 2013 for a 30 date tour.
Formed in December 2010 by Charlie Esposito (Altered/The Darksiders) and Shaun Combee (Altered/Loki/Left for Dead). Ideas were exchanged and a platform was created. Kadie Kirby (vocals) joined shortly after. Her background in stage performances and her love for macabre horror films/ femme metal groups let Kadie fit quite well with the dark allegro pieces being created. Tony Florio (Axis/Zero Hour) and long time friend of founding members joined the ranks there after and added the speed and technicality the group was looking for. Genotype then began writing and producing their debut self-titled album. “Genotype” was independently released in February 2012 by Charles Esposito(West North Audio). In June of 2012, Genotype was completed with the addition of Remington Roberts (Theophagy) on drums enabling the group to start playing live acts. Remington later completed the percussion remix of Genotype1. As Tony made his exit from the band in 2013 pursuing personal interests, Dave Zellers (Blackhawk Band, 12 Pack Pretty, Swift Kick) helped the band by filling in as bassist for a circuit of shows also uniting father and daughter(Kadie) in solid live performances. Justin Krotz was added to the lineup on bass in June 2013 keeping the backbone and wall of sound that is Genotype in the studio for the second Album release “Design Intent” 2014.(West North Audio) Genotype Is currently developing it’s third creation to be finished in late 2016.
Yellow Canaries are known for their ability to sing in order to warn miners of danger. A Scarlet Canary is known for her ability to scream into the dark caverns below just to get better reverb and hit a higher harmony. Forget the age old idea that a canary is a weak bird that’s only purpose is to comfort old ladies and outsmart cartoon cats. Scarlet Canary has played with national acts, such as Skillet and Smile Empty Soul, and is led by the talented young Hannah Haze who lists In This Moment and Halestorm among her top influences. Scarlet Canary is an energetic rock act balancing heavier dropped guitars and deep driving toms that back clean hard rock inspired vocals. Just when the music has reached a climatic bridge it is not uncommon for Ms. Haze to scream into the crowd. Hannah is a bird of prey ready to show any audience why the caged bird screams.
*Currently on tour and performing in Cradle Of Filth
After fronting various rock bands since her teens, Canadian native Schoolcraft felt it was time to do something very different: “It just felt right, the music I’ve always written could survive the song writing process with or without a band.” As the familiar face from Mary and The Black Lamb and the guest vocalist on Daedalean Complex’s album titled “A Rose For The Dead,” through her musical contributions, she says her solo effort feels like coming “Home”.
Her first release “Rushing Through The Sky” is a lyrical journey of Schoolcraft’s mourning and triumph from her darker earlier years: “Each song is a chapter of some feat I’ve confronted.” While it also plays on fantasy and has a romantic vibe, it is still very realistic and lyrically organic. It is also a tribute to those who feel forlorn and misunderstood: “I’m a really dramatic person in my mind and heart. This can sometimes be a good or a bad thing, but I know there are others out there like that too”.
With the release of her first EP “Rushing Through The Sky,” Schoolcraft describes it as “dark, beautiful, elegant, humble, and smart”. Thanks to contributing musicians such as Daedalus (Daedalean Complex) for orchestral collaboration and Kitty Thompson (Johnny Hollow) on cello, she was able to achieve her vision.
Schoolcraft’s sound was honed from her years at The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), where she received classical training in voice and piano. Symphonic rock and experimental ambient albums such as Evanescence’s “The Open Door”, We Are The Fallen’s “Tear The World Down”, Bjork’s “Vespertine”, and Within Temptation’s “The Silent Force” were also huge influences during the writing and recording process.
With little time left before the release she was fortunate enough to incorporate the Celtic harp on select songs with only having a few months of training backing her. Her biggest vision for the project is to one day work with a full live orchestra. “Rushing Through The Sky” is just an introduction to the many works she has written and plans to release over the years. As she writes music to heal herself, she hopes it heals and inspires others too.
Once upon a midnight dreary, there was a young lass of chocolate locks and golden eyes. She peered deep in to the darkness and dreamed, doubtfully, of notes held high which no mortal ever dared to dream. No syllable expressed as the silent years danced around her. But deep within her burning soul bore a haunting melody. Now, in the distant echoes stirs a resonance waiting to be tamed…
“Vocalist Grace Méridan soars over a bed of chugging guitars and pleasant symphonics.” Max Levites, Sonic Cathedral.
“Grace’s operatic voice elevated the music to a level somewhere in the stratosphere.” Joel Beverley, happyheadbanger
False Hope Fades proudly hails from the mighty city of Chicago. They formed in the Fall of 2012 and have been makin rock ‘n roll since. These three unlikely characters have come together to create something soulful, passionate, and real. Driven by their unparallelled determination and broken hearts FHF is here to rock. They are currently working on new material for their upcoming EP as well as gigging in and around Chicago. With fingers crossed and hopes high FHF will soon be coming to a town near you! Stay tuned!
Melding power and beauty, Anaria leads the nation in defining American Symphonic Metal, forging unique and memorable melodies — while retaining both strength and grace in delivery.
Taking root in a primarily European genre, Anaria is uniquely American.
In 2012, four months before the impending Mayan apocalypse date, a Plague of Stars was first engineered by alchemist Melissa Ferlaak (previous projects: Aesma Daeva, Visions of Atlantis, Echoterra) and vibratory physicist Will Maravelas (We Are Legion). The two discussed the initial formula then brought in two additional scientists, resonance engineer Christopher Quinn (previous projects: Aesma Daeva, A Whisper in the Noise, Dodd) and metallurgist/percussive engineer Aaron Lanik (We Are Legion) to add their expertise to the formula. Initially concocted were two surprising reactions, “In the Pines” which replicated earlier known reactions produced by Lead Belly and “When Morning Came” an original design that surprised those who came in contact with it. These two strains of the virus would soon be engineered to include multiple strains of the infection to be released into the public in June 2013 following a top secret campaign by private donors, who believe this biochemical weapon is the answer to the struggles we currently face. The plague to be remembered in history….if history continues to exist….the Plague of Stars.
When The Graduate disbanded we decided that we still wanted to keep writing music together. These seven songs are all instrumental demos that were recorded by us over the course of the past several months. Any money that is donated will go back into us producing more music. Currently, we have a few other projects in the works as well, but the four of us plan to keep making music together.
For Breaking Laces, the prospect of recording an album in Nashville at first seemed preposterous; after all, as singer Willem Hartong says, “we’re talking about Countryville USA.” But this past spring, when the Brooklyn-based raucous-rock trio ventured down South, a far different Music City greeted them upon arrival: the band discovered an evolving Tennessee town where torching riffs and gunshot drums were steadily replacing time-battered twang. Acclaimed Nashvillian studio rats, like producer Paul Moak, were also eager to get down to business producing rock-steady riots – exactly the sort the Laces had already begun cooking up back home. “It was one of those moments where we were all like ‘Is there even a question?’” drummer Seth Masarsky recalls of the Laces’ instant connection with Moak at his Smoakstack Studios, after which they signed on and began recording Come Get Some, the band’s most unencumbered, free-spirited album to date.
Since forming in 2003, Breaking Laces have played practically every variety of venue imaginable – from coffeehouses to summer camps, and festivals to amphitheaters. All throughout however, while traversing the peaks and valleys of the oft-unpredictable music industry, the Laces pressed onward. “We’ve never shied away from rolling up our sleeves, getting in the van and working,” the drummer explains. “It was a slow and steady climb,” Masarsky adds, describing the band’s journey to Come Get Some. “A lot of bands break up; we’ve kept at it.”
Breaking Laces’ fourth full-length release, Come Get Some is a statement piece: the centerpiece of a band having spent years cultivating its craft both onstage and in the studio. It’s also the sound of three musicians musically undeterred – free to amalgamate their harmonic delicacy, ripping rock sensibilities, and off-the-cuff charm into an album they can proudly stand behind. “The goal was always this record,” explains Hartong, citing the trio’s critically-praised 2011 effort, When You Find Out, as a “stepping stone” work.
Rare Monk is a 5-Piece band from Portland Oregon, being described as, “A special brand of violin smoked rock that floats through galaxies of psychedelic guitars and 90s alternative influences.”
