by Brandon Lemons
We talk House , A Bomb in a Birdcage , and even some politics with L.A. by way of
Seattle's superstar songstress, A Fine Frenzy
This month in reviews including: Hey Monday, Lights, Damon Jones,
DG and more!
"...Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?...." awwww summer, I already miss you and you're not even gone quite yet. What a summer it has been though, sure the weather was less than stellar in my neck of the woods this summer, it seems like we barely got one, but all that aside it was (as the cool kids say) EPIC.
I don't want to give away too much, since I really want you to continue reading the magazine instead of stopping on this page, but I got to hang with some awesome bands at Vans Warped Tour this past month with my writing intern Annalee Peck, who was also my acting assistant that day. Many thanks to her, I couldn't have done it alone.
Lots of other great stuff happened this month, www.hitsdailydouble.com did an interview with me of all people and yes although I try to stay humble, I really enjoyed it, I mean REALLY enjoyed it, I like being on the other side of the questions for a change.
I also did a Q&A with the uber talented Ali Sudol (better known as A Fine Frenzy), it ranks as one of my favorite interviews yet. My admiration for her work and how she presents herself as a person is huge, I am honored to have her as a part of this month's magazine.
I can't even describe how exciting this all is for me and I hope the readers feel the same way. When it all comes down to it, I want this magazine to be something different then the old rules of journalism. Who wants to follow all the rules anyway? Drink up and enjoy! -Brandon
I am not sure if anyone quite embodies the feeling of Los Angeles right now quite as well as Sabrosa Purr does, they are dirty (in the best way), sexy, dark, rebellious....in simpler words they are rock perfection. I personally consider them a brand new style of glam rock and if you haven't heard of them, then you are missing something really special in your life. Lead singer Will Love answered some questions for us that we think you just might enjoy.....
Q. How was Sabrosa Purr formed?
A. I wrote a bunch of songs in a really crappy rehearsal room on Santa Monica Boulevard and thought I could form an amazing band to play them and rule the world. You know, 'cuz everyone that starts a band wants to be huge and if they don't admit it, they're most likely lying. And I've lucked out tremendously and inspired some beautiful and talented people to support that vision, past and present. We're still working on the "ruling the world" part, but we've gone from not knowing a soul in Los Angeles to releasing our first record on LA's darling Indie label Dangerbird Records to playing in Tokyo, Japan where people actually knew the words to our songs! Amazing! Japan! I grew up in rural Florida, that's a crazy trajectory! Hard trip for a Vegan though. They put fish on EVERYTHING.
Q. What is the story behind the name Sabrosa Purr?
A. I wanted something "witchy". And it was a backlash against all those lazy-ass "The" bands. I mean, I like The Strokes and The White Stripes and I think the names are cool for them, but I wanted a fucking NAME, like The Mars Volta, Sigur Ros or Led Zeppelin. Something special. You don't work 24/7 on your band and then name it The Dicks or something. Actually, that'd be a cool name, I'm sure it's taken. Let's Google "The Dicks" and take a listen, be right back...
Oh, shit, these guys are rad! They're a hardcore punk band from Austin that put out records on SST and Alternative Tentacles. Listening to Lifetime Problems , the singer's nuts! Ok, I stand corrected, The Dicks is a great name. I'm gonna buy this song on iTunes.
Q. What bands from the past have influenced you, and what bands both on a local and mainstream level inspire you now?
A. From "the past", Prince, Radiohead, Jane's Addiction, Sigur Ros, Oasis (Noel Gallagher rules), The Verve. I put "the past" in quotes because I don't really believe in time. Or at least not linear time. It's so manipulatable. Plus, I look at clocks, watches and my phone at 11:11 every day without fail, so I think whoever's controlling time is fucking with me. Currently I dig The Temper Trap, Kasabian, TV On The Radio ( Wolf Like Me is one of the best songs ever!), and I love the solo projects of my bandmates who are gifted, lovely individuals, check out Memphis and The Lonely Crowes, Angie Mattson and Omniflux. All great stuff. Why they tolerate me I'll never know, but I think it's something to do with how I look in tight pants.
What I'm obsessing over now though is rap. There's really good rock music being made, but a lot of rock musicians are SO worried about the rules of the scene that it stops some brilliant people short of taking chances that might make some really interesting music. You know David Bowie is one of the greatest, but he did a couple of goofy-ass things, the codpiece and hairdo in Labyrinth? But, fuck it, do weird shit, take chances. That's why we're wearing uniforms in our Fashion Kills video, because frankly all I see are people wearing uniforms;
the Silverlake uniform, the Williamsburg uniform, etc.
Q. Angie Mattson (a friend of Lemonade Magazine) is your bass player, she also has a solo career and one hell of a voice...any word on whether she will play wonder woman in the upcoming movie or not?
A. It's funny you should ask, she and Olivia Munn, the senior Asian correspondent on The Daily Show have to mud-wrestle to see who gets the part. Frankly, I don't care who wins, I'll die of a happy heart-attack just watching it. Because they're girls. Wrestling. In mud. Get it? Does Thom Yorke ever give idiotic answers like this???
Q. How long before Sabrosa Purr is named the sexiest rock band in the world? or are you already there?
A. I think Angie named us the "Sexiest band evah'!!!" when she was just a fan, before she was in the band. I'm pretty sure that's a legally binding declaration, but I'd be willing to concede that Sonic Youth are still the sexiest rock band in the world, because Kim Gordon is STILL hot and Thurston Moore is a rad lookin' motherfucker onstage. So, maybe we're the sexiest NEW rock band? Could you possibly have set me up to sound like more of an ass than this? :)
Q. What can we expect in the future for Sabrosa Purr?
A. Constant growth. I feel like we're coming out of a dark phase with renewed enthusiasm and optimism. We had a couple of rough patches to go through, bad times with our old label which led to some really difficult obstacles for us to overcome. But, hatchets buried, lessons learned, perspective gained, etc. Now I feel my sole purpose is to write the truest, most interesting and original music I'm capable of and to perform at 100% whether it's in front of 10 people or a thousand. Pulling sounds out of the ether is an addiction. I'm hooked.
http://www.myspace.com/SabrosaPurr
Auriemma is a duo based in Bellingham, WA. Lead vocalist/mandolin player (along with playing just about every other instrument you could find in your local music store) Richie Auriemma is originally from the east coast, but found his place in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with violinist Liz Elton.
Through online networking and playing local shows, Auriemma has managed to gain a nice following and has even had decent sales with online MP3s as well as ringtones. On Reverb Nation they have held they #1 spot locally for four months straight.
They also have released their first album Rich Ones on iTunes, which is a nine song collection of folk rock, rock and roll, with a touch of blues and country.
Auriemma is currently working on a distribution deal with Spains Santo Grial Producciones and says they are ready to take Europe by storm.
If you enjoy sweet sounding folk rock, then you have to check out Auriemma and make sure the next time you are in the Pacific Northwest you try and catch one of their shows.
For more on Auriemma, check out www.reverbnation.com/auriemma or www.myspace.com/auriemma66
What was it like being invited and then playing something with as much history as Lilith Fair?
It was a complete and utter surprise, first of all! There were rumors about it online from fans before I actually heard about it, but I definitely didn't believe them until I heard it officially. Sarah McLachlan was a huge influence on me growing up, and it was such an honor getting to be a part of her festival and get to watch her every night. Of course, there were major shoes to fill stepping into this year's festival, but I also knew that I was going to be exposed to an audience that would be receptive to female singer-songwriters, and everyone on the tour made me feel very much at home right away.
After the success of One Cell in the Sea , and songs like Almost Lover (which in my humble opinion is one the most beautifully written songs out there), were you nervous that Bomb in a Birdcage wouldn't live up to your fans' expectations?
Thank you so much! Yes, of course I was nervous, I think that's par for the course on the sophomore album. The first time around, you are basically making music in a vacuum, whereas the second time, you have a whole lot more eyes and ears on what you do. I can't say that I fully understood what people's expectations were for the second album, and so, because of that, had to push my nerves aside and focus on what I needed to do to grow as an artist and as a human being as well. I did know for sure that I couldn't conjure up an album full of Almost Lovers , and though I realized that not doing so might be a risk,seeing as how much people seemed to relate to that song, it was a risk I had to take. Almost Lover was written from an honest place, and approaching Bomb, I had to write from where I was emotionally at the time, which was more raw, conflicted, and also a bit more rebellious. I'm much calmer now that I have that out of my system.
Being that I happen to be a huge fan of the television show, House, I notice they seem to really love you on that show! How did it happen that they decided to use so much of your music for their show?
I love House ! It was so wonderful to be a part of that show! I'm not entirely sure how that happened, I think the music supervisor heard a song they liked and just put it in there! It was quite a thrill to be watching and then hear myself singing on there. I might have nerded out a little and squealed a bit... maybe...
You were born in Seattle and then moved to L.A. at 5 years old. Although you were very young when you moved, you do come up here (to Seattle) often for shows, what are the biggest differences in your opinion between both music scenes?
Gosh, I really love Seattle. Every time I go, I tell my mom I'm moving back. It's such an amazing, clean, interesting, beautiful city. I miss it all the time. I can't really compare the music scenes because I live down here now and I haven't really had a chance to hang out in Seattle long enough to get a feel for its music scene. We have definitely had some wonderful shows there, with incredibly warm audiences, and I always love playing in my home town. I would think they're pretty similar, though, in that there are a lot of cool bands coming out of both scenes and each have their own distinct music cultures.
As most of us have, you seem to have caught the twitter bug. I remember seeing some of your tweets while you were finishing up Bomb in a Birdcage and you were kind of nervous about writing some of the last songs. The writing throughout the album seemed to come out flawless, was that due to a lot of last minute writing sessions? Or were you just nervous at the time?
Thank you again! Was I nervous? I can't really remember. Oh yes, I think I was having trouble with some lyrics. I took my time with most of the writing, but there were definitely a few throwing-the-notebook-against-the-wall/yelling-at-inanimate-object moments at the end when I was running into
time constraints and couldn't figure out what to say. Sometimes, those moments are the most fruitful, though, even if they are stressful and unpleasant for all parties involved, especially my neighbors. It all panned out well enough when all was said and done though, luckily!
One of my favorite tracks on Bomb in a Birdcage is kind of a different sound for you titled We Stood Up , can you tell us a little more about the story of that song?
Sure. I wrote that song in the heat of the Presidential election. I had loved politics when I was young, and had even had fuzzy dreams of becoming President one day, but once I started learning more about the subject in modern day terms, I grew pretty disillusioned with the whole business. When I was finally able to vote in 2004, a little excitement returned, but it quickly vanished when my candidate lost and I felt like my vote didn't matter at all. However, when I discovered Barack Obama (which was about a year before the primaries,a friend of mine was working for him), I found myself strangely optimistic about him. Then, throughout the course of the primaries and then the Presidential election, seeing the way people of all kinds were banding together to support him, that feeling grew stronger and stronger. Though it was an extremely polarizing topic, there was also a strong sense of unity that arose at that time, as slowly but surely, more and more people jumped on the wagon to help. There was also a newfound optimism that I noticed, which I think stemmed from people actually believing change was possible for what felt like the first time in a long while. I found it very inspiring, and thus wrote We Stood Up .
I heard rumor you are maybe writing a children's book? Is this true? And what other plans do you have for the future?
It is true! It's a children's fantasy/adventure book, full of talking animals, enchanted ships, castles in the sky, underwater kingdoms and lots of very odd, lovable and unlovable characters. I finished it quite a while ago now, but it needs a good, vigorous edit, and I haven't had a chance to give it the attention it needs. I also just finished writing a script, which has some strong fantasy elements in it as well, though it's much more directed towards grown-up children instead of un-grown-up ones. Writing is a stabilizing force in my life- the more stories I write, the happier I am. I suppose one day I'll have to live in the real world, but I'm going to put that day off until it's absolutely unavoidable. My imaginary world is much more fun.
-Brandon Lemons
A Bomb in a Birdcage is available everywhere music is sold both in stores and online!
www.afinefrenzy.com
My trip to my first ever Vans Warped Tour stop started about an hour north of Seattle. I made a stop in Seattle to meet up with my writing intern, Annalee and take off to the second to last stop on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour...The Gorge in Washington State. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Northwest, The Gorge is a natural amphitheater near the Columbia River, located in the town of Quincy, WA about two and a half hours east of Seattle. That two hour drive turns into an almost 30 degree change in temperature (on this day in particular, Seattle was in the 90s, The Gorge was around 106 degrees, so a normal summer day for The Gorge, but a higher than average day for Seattle). Thankfully we were in my intern's car (mine doesnt have A/C). Annalee and I hadn't actually met in person before this trip, so it was quite the experience.
I give her complete credit for dealing with my pre interview anxiety issues (no matter how many bands or artists I interview, I still get nervous until I am actually there), as well as my scattered ramblings that happen when I am on a somewhat lengthy drive. We are now good friends, which may lead some to wonder what her problem is...those who know me especially.
Not only was this my first time being at Vans Warped Tour (at 24 I feel a little old saying that), but it was also my first time east of the mountains here in Washington, which is a little crazy, since I have lived in Washington my whole life. When we finally reached our destination, I was blown away, the scenery is literally breathtaking. However you didn't start reading this to hear about how beautiful The Gorge is, you wanted to hear about Warped. So I shall begin.
The thing I love about Vans Warped Tour is that for 15 years now (16 if you count the year before Vans started sponsoring it), the tour provides this place where the outcasts, misfits and eccentrics of the world really feel at home. When you walk in local bands are playing their stuff off stage near their van, RV or however else they got there, teens and twenty somethings stand at each different stage completely captivated by the music that finally gets out what they want to get out so badly.
Sure some of us look back on our teen angst years and think "umm, why was I so angry again?", but I don't know what I would have done without bands like Green Day, Bad Religion, Dropkick Murphys and Dashboard Confessional, we all need that sort of release in some of the most confusing years of our life. Especially if you weren't an All State Quarterback or the Cheerleader he was....well you know what comes next.
I love the evolution of Vans Warped Tour as well. I love the fact that you see power pop bands like Hey Monday or "Bohemian Dub" bands like Medium Troy sharing the tour with some of the more aggressive punk, hardcore, and emo bands. It is refreshing and I think it also helps some of the young fans who come there listening to one genre open up their minds to another. Sure Hey Monday doesn't feature a screamer like Eyes Set To Kill does, but they can still rock the stage and work the crowd.
Perhaps the nicest part of the experience for me is that beyond the copious amounts of mascara, guy-liner, tattoos, piercings and self-done haircuts, Vans Warped Tour is stacked with tents for various charities or help centers for the less fortunate of many different kinds. So many people get the wrong idea about both the music and the tour, they see it as just angst and rebellion with no point other than to be loud and obnoxious. When in truth I see a group of people, who may not have been the teacher's pet, they might not even ever step
It has been six years since Shiragirl literally crashed onto Warped Tour. It was 2004 when they crashed Warped Tour in a pink RV, which ended up landing them a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Warped Tour exhibit. Yeah they're badass, but the bouncy (in a punk way); Brooklyn rockers have a soft side too. Their brand new hit Stomp It Out (produced by none other than Swizz Beatz) features a guy that maybe a couple of you have heard of...Lil Wayne? Does that name ring a bell? And was created as a song to bring awareness to breast cancer prevention and a cure. Shira also donned a pink ribbon dress designed by Delicious Corsets (Philadelphia)
during some of their performances on Warped Tour this year in dedication to the cause.
Shiragirl embodies the spirit of Warped Tour in every way and are crowd pleasers through and through, but who were they digging when not on stage? Everyone from legends like Andrew W.K. to newer bands tearing up the tour like Automatic Loveletter and MeTalkPretty. For more on Shiragirl visit www.shiragirl.com
foot in a university, but they are people who care, and people who think with their own heads instead of what someone else has told them they should. This may have been my first time at Warped Tour, but if I have anything to say about it, it won't be my last.
If there was more time, we could tell you exactly how a punk rock band with the moniker "Whiskey Dick" turned into the "Bohemian Dub" (the genre in which they have decided they are) band Medium Troy, but we will save that for another time. What really matters right now is that the seven piece band that hails from Eugene, Oregon brought the funk/folk/dub/rock/hip hop infusion to Warped Tour as well as being one of a few breakout Northwest bands to jump on the tour.
Medium Troy has become a staple in Eugene, Oregon, selling out every W.O.W. Hall show that they have headlined, as well as winning Best Band of 2009 at the Eugene Weekly Awards. Their first CD entitled Bohemian Dub is available on the bands website and a second album is in the works. Their personalities are as refreshing as their sound and here at Lemonade Magazine..we believe they might just be going somewhere.
Check them out at www.mediumtroy.com
Compared to all the brand new, young bands at Warped, Dropkick Murphys are legends. I couldn't help, but be in awe of speaking with a guy like Al Barr (lead singer) and I can imagine most of the bands on tour feel the same way. 2010 was the fifth time in their career that Dropkick Murphys have jumped onto Warped Tour at some point, and anyone who knows Dropkick Murphys knows that live is where they can teach just about everyone a thing or two on how you do it.
Their latest CD also happens to be their second live CD entitled Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA . As mentioned above, their home truly is on stage, so a live CD from Dropkick Murphys isn't just another live CD, it is an experience. They also let us know that there is a new studio record in pre production as well.
We can hope that they love Seattle as much as we love them, we do after all share the same..how do I say this nicely? Dislike for the New York Yankees (Dropkick Murphys are well known for penning the unofficial Boston Red Sox anthem Tessie which plays after every win at Fenway Park), because we definitely want to see more of them here.
Barr lists classic bands like Agent Orange and Angry Samoans as some of their favorite bands to see play on Warped, but also said they enjoy listening to the upcoming talent that manage to catch their ear as well.
If you are one of the few people who have been living in a cave for years and haven't heard anything from these Boston boys.
Go check them out at www.dropkickmurphys.com
Eyes Set To Kill joined the likes of Automatic Loveletter, MeTalkPretty and Hey Monday in having ties to Florida this year on Warped Tour (although based out of Phoenix, Arizona, new band member Cisko Miranda is from Florida). Fronted by sisters Anissa and Alexia Rodriguez,
they also join a movement in rock music that proves guys are not dominating the rock genre anymore. In the words of newest band member Cisko Miranda (screaming vocals) "I am very happy to see this happening as the transformation is well due and it shows music is changing for the better with a more level playing field between girls and guys." Cisko joined the band after the departure of Brandon Anderson.
Vans Warped Tour 2010 was Eyes Set To Kill's first time on Warped Tour, which gave them a great platform to promote their latest CD Broken Frames (recorded at Wade Studios in Ocala, FL). Broken Frames features an even heavier sound than past records, which may have helped Annisa and Alexia earn the title of "Hottest Chicks In Metal" from Revolver Magazine as well as being named one of the "100 Bands You Need To Know" by Alternative Press.
Collectively the band says they really enjoyed playing the Orlando stop on tour, as there were lots of friends and family present. They also said that New York, Chicago and Houston/Dallas were amazing stops as well.
It looks like Eyes Set To Kill definitely found a nice summer home on Warped Tour, so lets all hope they are back to visit next year.
For more on ESTK check out www.eyessettokill.net
Cassadee Pope may be the rebel of all rebels when it comes to pop-punk music these days. At first glance "rebel" wouldn't be the first thing that comes to mind. Where most of the bands on Warped walk the press areas in their on stage costumes, Cassadee has no gimmick, she walks the grounds in her flip flops, shorts, tank top and ray ban-esque shades. That alone may make her the biggest rebel on the tour.
The small in stature, but big in voice Florida native comes across sweeter and cuter than most of her piers, so most wouldn't expect the fact that this girl can rock with the best of them. Cassadee doesn't make any promises about who she is or what her music is about, she writes from her heart and lets it all out on stage, take what you will from it, she is just herself and boy could the music scene use a hell of a lot more of that.
A small downside for Cassadee and Hey Monday may be the fact that many people still put them in the shadow of Paramore, which is in fact really sad, since you can't really compare the two bands, (besides the fact they both feature female lead singers with powerful pipes). Cassadee even claims to be a Paramore fan and has a more positive spin on it saying "it's not really about competing with other bands, we are fans of them too, we are just really happy with our own successes as they happen."
Their debut album Hold On Tight and brand new EP Beneath It All (reviewed later on in this issue) are both available at music stores all over the nation and the World Wide Web.
Here is to many more successes for Hey Monday who will never be in the shadow of anyone to us.
www.heymondaymusic.com
Its funny how fame can so quickly change somebody. All it takes is getting noticed a little and that part of you that was humble does a 180. Then you have those other people, the minority who continue to be modest no matter how long they have been in the public eye.
Setting up interviews at a festival is never an easy task, you never know who will actually be available and if all the times jive with each other. Although I was fortunate enough to meet a bunch of amazing people at Warped Tour, I sadly missed out on a one on one with Art Alexakis from Everclear. Thankfully, his publicist was able to arrange a phone call the following week.
I can't say I have been doing this a long time, but I have been interviewing bands, artists, designers, etc. for quite a while and I don't know if I have ever talked with someone (for the first time) as friendly and as humble as Alexakis. What impressed me the most was how honored he was to be included in the mix with all the youngsters on tour this year for four of the stops they were at. I try to be humble, but even I couldnt help, but think "dude! You could take some of these kids to school, you are a legend!", in fact I actually told him that in some round about way, yet he just laughed and still seemed to find the positive in everything and everyone involved in the experience.
It was back in that time we now call "The 90s" when Alexakis fell into the post grunge, "cowpunk" scene of San Francisco, when things didn't go as planned, he moved to Portland, OR with his girlfriend. Once settled there, he placed an add in a local music publication searching for band members, shortly after Everclear was formed. Throughout the years, Everclear went through a number of changes and had numerous hits including So Much For The Afterglow and perhaps one of their most popular mainstream songs,
Santa Monica.
Although Alexakis has visited Warped Tour on and off since the 90s, as hard as it is to believe, this was Everclear's first year jumping onto the tour. Everclear also has a new album in the works that will hopefully be out sometime next year. Alexakis says the new album will please both old fans as well as the many new fans they made on their Warped Tour stops this year.
Speaking to the Everclear front man was honestly one of the coolest experiences I have had, never have I had an artist ask me questions about what music I was enjoying and how my Warped experience was...he did. He didn't treat it as work, he treated as a nice phone call with a friend. Whether this makes Art Alexakis a good interview or not, doesn't really matter, because it makes him one hell of a human and as cliché as it sounds, a hero in the world of music.
For more info on Everclear www.everclearonline.com
So where are you guys from?
Uliana: We live in New York, but I am originally from Romania, I came here about five years ago to live the dream.
Leon: I was born in Spain, but I grew up in the United States.
So Uliana, what were your reasons for moving here?
Uliana: Basically, I had two things I wanted to follow...to be with my family and to be in America, which is everyones dream where I am coming from. Now that I am actually rocking out in a band that is making some noise, it makes me really proud, it's been hard work, but I am proud.
Have you been on through the whole Warped Tour?
Leon: No, we have actually been on tour since late April, so we were by ourselves for a few weeks and then we went on a national tour with Neon Trees, Paper Tongues and Civil Twilight, that tour just finished in early August, so right after that we jumped onto the final four dates of Warped.
I saw that you guys have an EP out, is there a full-length album coming out soon?
Uliana: Yeah, we do have the EP its called We Are Strangers , and it has five songs on it, the full-length album will be out in the fall with the same name.
Leon: We released it digitally a couple of weeks ago (late July) just to start the ball rolling. A lot of great things have happened like our song Wake Up was placed in NHL 10, as well as Sims 3. We also just won the Freshman Trophy from MTV, so a lot of great things are happening.
I know a lot of people who are into video games as well and it seems that that sort of exposure helps a ton
Leon: You can't even imagine, we were a northeast band from the tri-state area for a while and I mean we toured over 500 shows, but when the video game came out (NHL 10) we exploded, internationally like Canada, Scandinavia, U.K., like even down in South America.
Uliana: Especially U.K. Yeah after that song came out on the video game, we didn't know what to expect, we were a growing band on the East Coast, and after that happened we got a ton of letters from fans that were like "I want to know what the song is about" or "do you have more music?". So we talked with almost everybody who wrote us, hundreds of them and it was nice because they became really excited for the EP to come out.
When things really catch on, those sort of things like answering fans can really become a ton of work right?
Leon: Well the cool part about touring is that there is a lot of downtime, so we answer every single letter, we dont have anybody working for us. We try to answer all of our face book comments, twitter, myspace, all that stuff.
That's pretty admirable, many bands including up and comers don't seem to take that time.
Leon: I don't understand that, there is no excuse for that; they are your gateway, not only to success, but understanding who you are as an artist.
Uliana: I mean I understand some of their reasons for not answering everyone, but I don't want to be like that, I want to have one on one. I want to know what songs they like, or what songs they dislike, a lot of fans were so honest with us and that made us change a lot of things that made us better.
So are you guys sticking around on the west coast for a while?
Leon: No today (August 14th) is actually the last show and then we have a homecoming show on the 21st with Filter in New York City.
Well you guys truly embody what we are after, and I wish you a ton of success and hope that things continue to keep rolling.
Leon and Uliana: Thank you so much! It was a pleasure.
For more info on Me Talk Pretty visit www.metalkpretty.com
How are you enjoying Warped Tour? This isn't your first time right?
Juliet: No this is my 3rd time doing Warped Tour, my first time doing the whole thing. It's been amazing, we have a bus this year, so that's been nice, the new album came out in June, so we have something to promote, I have my full band, dude its just been fucking awesome.
Speaking of the band your brother plays lead guitar, you seem like a bit of a tomboy, but what's it like being surrounded by so many guys on tour?
Juliet: Well I grew up with my best friends being boys and looking up to my brother, I followed him and his friends around, so it's very second nature just to be around boys, in fact girls are the ones that if I am around for a while I tend to get annoyed. Guys are just better.
You have a song on Truth or Dare called Story Of My Life which seems pretty autobiographical, how much of it is true?
Yes, that is the true story right there. I was born in California and lived there until I was 10 and then we moved to Florida. My parents told me once I graduated, they would help me out with my career, so that's all I did for two years, I worked on school all day and through the night. At 16 I graduated and got my diploma and then moved to California. My parents supported me for a while financially, until I could support myself.
I'm a big fan of tattoos, having a few myself. You have quite a few, what are some of the stories behind them?
Juliet: Well I have a snake on my leg, I love snakes, I wanted a really cool classic 70s/90s tattoo and I love snakes, so I was like "fuck it Im getting a snake!". I have lyrics written on my legs that are actually my own lyrics, I have one from the movie Willow that is an ode to my niece, since her name is Willow. Umm, on my arm I have a dagger through a heart that says "True Love" because I'm emo. On my chest like really really small above my left boob it says "Happiness is a Warm Gun" and there is a gun. Then on my back it says
"I Believe in Yesterday" along with the feather. I have a rose underneath my left boob and it says "Oh Romeo Romeo".
What's the story behind your name, Automatic Loveletter?
Juliet: I would write poems and love letters to boyfriends and these guys would break my heart, I am a huge hopeless romantic. Automatic comes from the fact it's coming to you over the radio or through an amp or a song and its automatic, you know its like falling in love at first site, an Automatic Loveletter is like that, one of those songs.
What's your personal favorite song on the album?
Juliet: Personally, my favorite is Fade Away
That seems to be the consensus with a lot of people, it's one of my favorites, although the whole album is very strong, but yeah it's definitely one of my favorites along with Heart Song
Juliet: Yeah Heart Song is just fucking balls to the walls rock and roll.
Who are your biggest influences from any art form?
Juliet: Im influenced by everything, I mean you can be influenced by a song that sucked, and be influenced not to write a song like that. I grew up listening to everything from Zeppelin, to the Stones, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Janis Joplin, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Dashboard Confessional etc.
Warped Tour is coming to a close here soon, after it stops by my neck of the woods here in Washington. What's on the schedule after that?
Juliet: We are headed to New York for a couple of weeks to do some press, tour a little and then do Japan.
Is this your first time in Japan?
Juliet: Yes, and we are very excited!
Truth or Dare is the brand new album from Automatic Loveletter (Lemonade gave it rave reviews and 5 stars in the last issue) it is now available in music stores as well as online.
For more on Automatic Loveletter, visit www.myspace.com/automaticloveletter
They have a website in the works, but is currently under construction.
It's opinion time! Hopefully all of you can handle it after this action packed issue....ok enough corny, self promotion.
This month we have some great albums we were fortunate enough to be able to disect. Including this month's artist on artist review which features Rob Giles from last month's reviewed band, The Rescues. He decided to give his take on Jesca Hoop's new album Hunting My Dress.
So here it goes, this month in review.
Do you remember the first time you heard Nina Simone? Or Tom Waits? Not Heart of Saturday Night , but Bone Machine ? Or the first time you heard Jeff Buckley, and you couldn't figure out how the world existed before this...this music?! This voice? This VISION!? How about the first time you heard Sigur Ros?
I live for those moments, when music propels me to a place I didn't know existed. When music kicks the cynical judgments out of my head like they were teeth. These moments are few and far between, of course. They have to be; every good or great record can't be universe-shattering, paradigm-shifting brilliance. Every guy with a falsetto can't be Buckley. Every girl with a guitar can't be Joni.
No one can be Jesca Hoop.
I first heard Jesca almost six years ago when a friend who managed her gave me a demo EP. I'd never heard anything as free and un-tethered before. Each song was based in some medieval-meets-movie score modal harmony, changed time signatures a few times, and used different character voices to convey these otherworldly stories. The production sounded like the song, sounded like the production. It freaked me out. I still listen to it often. A demo EP. From six years ago.
Of course she had the opportunity to sign the major deal, made a challenging and beautiful debut called Kismet , polished her stunning live performance/personae. I think she was dropped or something typical for someone with such special artistry. Thank GOD her (new) management was so passionate, for Jesca kept going, moved to the UK, wrote and played new songs, found a label and now I get to listen over and over to the planet she called Hunting My Dress .
Three things before I go on and on about how and why this is a masterpiece from a very important artist:
1. You have never, ever heard anything like this.
2. You must buy the album now
3. You probably won't get it or even like it at first.
I truly hope you do get it. And buy it now. Stop reading, in fact. Go buy it. Its even on Vinyl with an MP3 download code etc.
Ok. Still reading?
The first track, Whispering Light
I'm not really sure what key this is in. Its otherness is alarming, disarming, but then the groove begins, and what seems like the angel-ghost of a white witch begins to peacefully preach about how the truth is awful quiet and your burden is your brilliance. The drummer/percussionist, Quinn, creates layers of polyrhythmic pulses that hypnotize and relentlessly coax you into Jesca's world and she doesn't let up.
The Kingdom , track two, starts much quieter than, well, anything thats been mastered in the past ten years. Crickets and a cracking fire are as loud as her 4/4-ish pluck, but a minute in, she begins to toy with us. The first of many changes sweep in and, like grabbing you by a handful of hair, pulls you into the high desert, where a war is raging. You can't understand the scope of her background vocal palette. She has so far created an album that's closest peer may be a three-hour foreign film, and we are only halfway through track two.
The third track, Feast Of The Heart , clacks and clangs like an eerie ghost train of threats, then changes course abruptly with a slamming drum groove that lasts for four bars into.....ah, there it is, the release! No, wait another section, from out of nowhere......that makes perfect sense, and then three bars later we have slid past something that I suppose resembles a chorus and back to the clacking ghost train again. What the fuck is going on?!?! She clearly does not give a fuck about what you think or what has happened in the past 40 years of pop music. If Jesca Hoop were a Zeppelin song, she'd be each track from Zeppelin IV on 8 separate turntables playing all at once and it would rule.
Angel Mom kills me. She describes the joy of being visited from the beyond. It's so vulnerable and sad and hopeful and she nails the desperation of missing a parent and perhaps seeing them, hearing them, by describing herself as a grown-woman jumping up and down with a joy she hasn't felt since she was a child. On her birthday, no less. Its insane. And I believe her. I wanna see my dad. Thank God she recorded this song.
Do I even need to keep going? Buy this album.
Ok.
