Interviews, Reviews, and More!

A little something of an update!

2012-02-01T08:41:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! It's been awhile since we've updated on here, things have been mad crazy in only the best ways! We've had 4 weddings since August and had an amazing few concerts to cover in there as well! Now that things have gotten back to a good pace, we'll be updating on here more often. Including things that inspire us, music we love, sessions we photograph, people that give us stories, everything STILLCODA!

The biggest news we have for all of you: NEW WEBSITE LOOK!!! We spent a few months working on this and finally came up with a look we absolutely fell in love with! We've been sporting it everywhere and making sure people get a new look at our sessions, printing options, cds and everything in between. We're very proud of where we've been able to get to and it's all because of you! We can't thank you enough for all the comments, support, love and sessions! You've truly made STILLCODA a better company but you've given us the inspiration for amazing photos.

I'll be updating the blog more regularly and posting some things from the weddings we've been working on along with a few shows we've covered. Make sure to share us with your friends and lets get 2012 to be the best year yet!!!

-Chelsey

Concert Review: Jonny Lang

2011-09-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

CONCERT REVIEW: JONNY LANG

There are always those artists that grow with you over the years. Not only do their crafts grow into something unforeseen, but remind you over and over again why you keep hitting repeat in your car. Only a small handful of artists can give you "the shiver" when they play. Very few can both sing and play guitar like they were touched by a gods hand alone. When soulful meets original, an icon of a genre is born. Jonny Lang is all of that and more, a master of skill since his younger self at 14.

Back in his home state of Minnesota, Jonny Lang and band are back and ready to remind us what it means to be alive. It's a full house at the Mystic Lake and Casino's auditorium and everyone doesn't wish to be anywhere but here. A full 2 hours of jaw dropping, soul gripping, and emotional ride is what we got. The skill at which Jonny still excels at, is mesmerizing. Like the legends of Rhythm and Blues, Jonny brings back old school and mixes it with his own flair. What impresses us the most, is the emotional ride you feel when he sings. There's a fluidness that few musicians are able to possess even with years of practice. One moment you are moving to the beat and the next tears are welling up in your eyes from the perfect pitch of his higher register. The many different generations in this auditorium are on the same page tonight. The demure personality of Jonny is instantly forgotten once the next song starts playing. Chills spread and everyone are on their feet, supporting this amazing artist and his band.

A standing ovation and encore is nothing less than what he deserves and what we get. Playing various songs from all of his albums and then some, everyone has been gifted a sight of this great performer. This is one artist that has to be on everyone's "Concert Bucketlist." It's everything a performance should be and everything a memory craves. Go see Jonny Lang on his tour runs and remember that this is true creation.

Make sure to check out:

Website: http://www.jonnylang.com/

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jonnylangband

A STILLCODA First: Wedding!

2011-08-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

The very first wedding to be done by STILLCODA! Even though we specialize in music and portrait photography along with our band interviews, we couldn't help but say yes to this amazing couple! Danielle and Colton had everything planned and detailed down to the dot. With influences from Wizard of Oz, who wouldn't want to shoot this wedding?

The couple held the wedding in a small town in Wisconsin at a place called The Orchard. It's rows of apple trees, pond, willow tree and historic background, it turned out to be the perfect place for this couple. Everything from the yellow flower petals, dog down the aisle, movie theme song to a stunning bride and groom, this couldn't have been a better first STILLCODA wedding.

Here are some shots from the beautiful day!

Oh No Fiasco Interview

2011-06-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

INTERVIEW: Oh No Fiasco

Members: Lindsey, Colin, Seth, Thomas, Kamryn

This Knoxville Tennessee female led group blends pop/rock/alternative/ and dance seamlessly to come with a sound that’s all theirs. Not only does it show the group’s ability to delve into many genres of music, it shows great talent and knowledge to bring all these sounds together onto one album.

We had a chance to talk with the band during their tour stop in Minneapolis, MN on probably one of the hottest days of the year.

STILLCODA: You guys were previously known as “The Few,” tell us a little about the transition to Oh No Fiasco?

L- It’s the same members as before. We could not be found online, which is the biggest thing now. When you’re in a band, to be able to Google your name and have your pages come up, we were always mistaken for someone else. The Marines had a lot on The Few, so we decided last year that we had to make a change, if we were actually to have a chance to do this and be known. People would say, “we heard you were playing, but we can’t find you at all.” So we changed the name, January this year. Honestly, it fits better with how we perform on stage. We like to be random in photo-shoots…video shoots. We wear costumes. We like to make this chaotic thing and it works for us.

STILLCODA: This is your first stop in Minneapolis and you are touring with RED, what’s it like being on tour and what experiences do you hope to take away with you?

L- People are so nice here. We we’re not expecting it to be this hot!

We definitely get the extremes.

L-This is day two, so we’re still getting to know them, but so far its been terrific.

C- Everyone has been really nice too. Usually it’s kinda like separations between the bands, but this is a good tour. Everyone is super friendly, humble and nice, it’s been a great experience.

L- We kinda wish RED was in our name. (laughs) So we are wearing red pants (tonight).

STILLCODA: You guys are gaining momentum obviously, and fans. What has been the response from people so far?

T- It’s been fantastic and ever growing. Every time we play we get more and more support and more and more people following us. It couldn’t be better.

C- That would be an audible thumbs up (laughs)

STILLCODA: Being a female front lead singer, what are your feelings and responses. Are you finding a comparison with other female lead singers?

L- There are just, not that many (female singers) and actually there are a lot more now, then ten years ago. But definitely, the big named bands that people go to will compare me to them, which just happens. It is very fun being the female singer in a band, because you don’t have to lift anything heavy… (laughs) I think the thing that annoys me most being a female singer in an upcoming band is, I always get mistaken for someone else, like “are you running merch, tonight?” Or they say “are you with the band or are you just the girlfriend.” And I’m like, “no I’m going to sing! I’m the singer.”

STILLCODA: What’s one thing you look forward too after touring?

T- More touring!

L- Maybe a few nights in my own bed.

C - Our dogs!

S - I’m actually looking forward to our video release, which should be coming out about the time we get off the road or close thereby.

L- Also after we get off the road this summer, we are going to start writing again, which we all love. With the release of this album, it only has seven songs on it… we definitely NEED to start writing to get more out there. So that’s really exciting.

Can you say more about that... What was the experience like writing the first album and why did you choose only seven songs?

T- We wanted to keep it short and sweet. Pick the best songs possible and I think the songs we picked are a culmination of our favorite material that we wrote over the past year and a half since we’ve been together.

L- We wrote over twenty songs but wanting to stick with the genre and where we are headed and without sounding the same, it worked best for us.

STILLCODA: How did you develop your sound? There is a little bit of dance/rock/pop

T- It’s everyone’s influences rolled into one nice fun collection of songs.

STILLCODA: What’ one thing that helps bring the creative energy to the group both on stage or off, such as in the studio?

T- Each other really. We love each other.

L - We actually are one of those bands that really get along. I know for writing, changing our atmosphere really helps and gets the brain going to be more creative. Before going on stage, we usually get together, do a little power talk, power hug.

S - Awww. You know we talk a little trash about each other. Get the vibe right (laughs)

C- Stretching is a good thing. Getting a good stretch in definitely helps.

STILLCODA: What’s one thing you hope people take away from your show?

L- I want people to have fun. I want them to walk away saying they were not expecting to see anything like that when they came to the show tonight. We just have so much fun on stage, you can tell we get along really well and we do enjoy this very much.

C- I’ll second that. I think it’s the goal of the whole band, not to sum it up for everyone. We have a lot of fun with what we do. It’s why we do it, is to have fun and grow as a band.

To see more about Oh No Fiasco,

go online to: www.ohnofiasco.com

or facebook page at www.facebook.com/ohnofiascomusic

and follow them on twitter!

-Interview by Morris Goodwin-

Concert Review: Hollywood Undead

2011-05-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

If there’s one thing Minneapolis knows, it’s music. We know there are some hardcore music fans out there, so we cater to their needs with some pretty awesome shows. This weekend, it’s 93x Fest and there’s a whole lot of great bands in town. The one that sticks out the most, is Hollywood Undead. Talk about excitement. You can feel it vibrate through the crowd even though its cold and rainy. What’s a little water to cool down the rampant temperature rising that’s caused by some badass music?

I know there’s a lot of talk about bands that wear masks and that it confuses people. We get it. But do you? If you were to listen to the heavy beats, tempting rifts and swift vocals, you’d never know these boys “hide” their faces behind masks that identify each as an individual. The moment Hollywood Undead step out onto the stage, you instantly know why they have a hardcore group of fans/followers. They grab your attention and shake it up. The energy in which these guys perform at is phenomenal. You don’t need to see expressions to know that they’re making a statement in every song played. You feel it. They interact with the crowd that isn’t always seen. It’s almost as if they dared every single person not to feel the music and not get into it. Let’s just say that everyone didn’t bother taking up the dare, they were singing and jumping without realizing it. The multiple fist pumps and screaming choruses heard from the crowd, is just one more reminder that HU is indeed that damn good.

Aside from the crowd, this band knows how to make it and how to guarantee a future in this industry. They value their fans and create a bond with them that few bands do. Their ability to perform live is always a treat and one no one forgets about. You’ll be surfing the net as soon as you get home to see when they’re in town next, what new gear they have, when they’re in town next and most importantly, listening to their music on repeat for the next few months. All in all, Hollywood Undead is one of the best bands to see live, hands down.

Escape the Fate Interview

2011-05-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

(photo credit: P.R. Brown)

ESCAPE THE FATE

(Band Members: Craig-Vocals, Bryan-Guitars, Max-Bass, Robert-Drums)

There are only a few bands that can say they’ve toured with some of todays biggest names in rock music and Escape the Fate has that honor. We got a chance to talk with Robert about those experiences and what he’s learned from them.

STILLCODA: YOU GUYS JUST GOT DONE WITH ROCK ON THE RANGE AND VARIOUS OTHER BIG FESTIVALS/SHOWS, HOW’S IT GOING SO FAR?

ROBERT: Other than some technical difficulties on some shows and some random things, everything’s going fucking great! We’re playing with amazing bands and personally Avenged Sevenfold has been my favorite band since high school, so getting to play with them is has been a dream come true. It’s been something on my bucket list, ya know? They’re reminder, a motivation for why you do what you do and what you do it for. I saw them play at small places when they first started then got to watch them get larger and larger, so it’s a surreal type of thing. We’ve been able to play with Three Days Grace and now Motley Crue, it’s definitely an incredible experience. Every festival is a different type of crowd, so it’s awesome for us to be able to branch out whereas we’re used to Warped Tour type crowds. It’s incredible watching all these different crowds watching us and seeing what they like and by the end of the set, it’s just madness.

STILLCODA: WHEN YOU’RE WATCHING THESE BANDS PLAY, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT CATCH YOUR EYE, THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO YOUR SET?

ROBERT: I guess for an example, I was personally never a fan of Korn but once we played with them (as well), it was one of the most intense show exchanges of your life. You see what they’re doing that works really well for them musically, stage wise, what people like and what their favorite parts of each of the songs are. So seeing that, makes me want to write a song like that. Watching Avenged Sevenfold, they’re all about flames, pyros, everything intense. Your first reaction is “Holy fuck!” It’s all about grabbing your attention and it works! They don’t fuck around when it comes to production, pyro and making it a spectacle. It’s all about bringing the song out and making it as big as you can. Then there are those bands that strip it down and have just the band. Their songs are gnarly enough that that’s all they need.

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT INSPIRE YOU FROM THE FANS?

ROBERT: It’s more about the show ya know? Just seeing the fans dancing around in the pit, singing a song, just knowing that they’re having a great time is worth it. You’re making them happy basically and that’s enough for me really. When someone tells you that you’ve helped them get through something, it means something. I understand it as music has done that for me too so it’s incredible to be on the other side. It’s makes you feel like you have a responsibility. I don’t have a real job, I play music so that’s my responsibility. You don’t need it to physically survive, you need it to spiritually survive.

STILLCOA: WHAT’S ONE OF THE SONGS OFF OF THE NEWEST RECORD ESCAPE THE FATE THAT TENDS TO “HIT” YOU MORE THAN THE REST?

ROBERT: I really enjoy all of our songs as it’s my band that’s doing it, you take pride in knowing you did it. There are songs for different reasons, like Massacre. It’s basically about a lot of addictions and it’s an aspect about the band that we’ve all had to deal with at one point. Personally, I’m not a drug addict, but I have to deal with it. It’s a song about how it affects everyone. Lyrically, it’s meaningful, it’s pissed off, you don’t feel light dealing with those emotions with your addictions. The Aftermath is a song that is a musically mastered song when we play it. Each band member can do their own part and do their best and it shows. The whole album is basically a story of our lives.

STILLCODA: WHAT SYMBOLIZES ESCAPE THE FATE:

ROBERT: Ah man, the name in itself symbolizes us. We always seem to shoot ourselves in the foot (laughs). For example, our headlining tour back in February, we were in New York, it was sold out and it was a huge show. There were celebrities there and it was just an incredible set. We felt like, yes we’re finally making it! This is our climax, we’re finally here! Then when we’re back on the bus, our guitar player is about to go home, our bass player is strung out, everyone is stressed. On the outside, everything’s working for us but it’s not always the case. It’s like how can we get to the next level and fuck ourselves? (laughs) I don’t know, but we’re not the only ones that go through it, other bands do to so I guess that helps. It’s definitely not an easy journey dealing with the stress, but defiantly one we’d take again.

STILLCODA: YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THERE’S MORE COMING IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS BAND!

ROBERT: Oh yeah dude! We can’t wait, no matter what, we love this!

STILLCODA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY, ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO SAY TO THE FANS?

ROBERT: Yeah, we love you! (laughs!)

Make sure to check out Escape the Fates sites for their latest news, tours and more!

Website: www.escapethefate.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/escapethefate

Twitter: twitter.com/escapethefate

Myspace: www.myspace.com/escapethefate

CD Review: Madam Adam

2011-05-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

MADAM ADAM

(The band - vocalist/guitarist Scott Gould, bassist Kenny Varner, guitarist Drew Reindollar and drummer Matthew Reindollar)

New off of Roadrunner’s Records label, MADAM ADAM self-titled debut album definitely has the potential to be at the forefront of the modern rock music world. It’s great to hear all these new bands with solid albums placing them as contenders to their contemporaries.

Hailing from Charleston, South Carolina this four-man band rocks hard. Lead singer Scott Gould has a great voice. It is scratchy yet powerful, lending their songs rough eloquence and edginess so wanted in the rock genre. They will appeal to all ages, from those who grew up to the classic rock of yesterday to the modern rock of today.

Falling from Grace – reminds me of some great anthems from Breaking Benjamin. The melodies and harmonies - so classic of Break Ben - mingle in this song. Being just the second song on the album, it certainly caught my attention with a desire to continue on the next track.

The lyrics are not complicated lines of prose, but catchy enough to get into, with some deep messages. Forgotten comes to mind with words such as “traumatic wounds, ugly abuse didn’t know the heart was made for that, is love in bloom or dead in the womb, paint my picture black….”

Still with such images coming to mind, their songs are an instant head bobber, even in their more ballad-like tunes. If you are familiar with mix master producer Skidd Mills, then you are probably fans of Saving Abel, Saliva, Skillet (whom we got to see one of their debut concerts and knew they would go places) and Sick Puppies.

In their entirety, MADAM ADAM is solid in both lyrics and instrumentals. What I had hoped for was a few more risks in their music that truly stamps them as brand new sound in the rock world. Just from listening, I know they are capable of achieving some awesome sounds and their love of music will push them to go even further in their future endeavors. I am eager to hear what will come from them next. Fans will definitively gravitate to their sound and hard-hitting tunes and from what I hear, but yet to experience, excellent performances.

Keep up with all that MADAM ADAM is currently doing on their website at

www.madamadam.com

and check them out on facebook,

www.facebook.com/pages/Madam-Adam

and request them on your local rock station!

You can also catch them on tour now!

Review by Morris Goodwin of STILLCODA

CD Review: Default

2011-03-27T19:47:00.000-07:00

Call them by any other name, but Default is definitely a group that has staying power. Comes and Goes is their fourth album from this Canadian band. Though this album dropped back in October ‘10, their songs hit the US charts gathering new fans and surprising old fans with amazing new sounds.

With singles such as “Supposed To Be” have had fans new and old alike making them a more permanent household name here in the states. Doesn’t hurt that this band was discovered by Nickelback’s singer Chad Kroeger. Some call Default post grunge, some refer to them as more alternative, hearing songs like “Turn it On” definitely has this old rock style that also popular group Halestorm is bringing back to forefront of today’s modern rock, Default proves they have the quality and ability to create great music.

Vocalist Dallas Singer has an incredible voice that carries and holds through the strong rifts, hard chords, key changes and tons of instrumentals in the entire album. “Comes and Goes” begins hard and fast, sliding into smooth rhythmic ballads such as “Little to Late” and ends just like it began. “Show Me,” reminded me a little of that old flair Goo Goo Dolls are so famous for. This orchestral rich song carries the instrumentals and vocals and deepens the melody, heightening your journey through the song.

Their album cover song surprised me. It carried a notable dissonance not found in any of their other songs on the album. Eerily beautiful and rich in the melodies and vocals, “Comes and Goes,” was quite enjoyable and just proved that Default is capable of more then just hard rock tunes.

Towards the end of the album “Fascination” definitely caught my ear. It was hard and rough textured. Real solid rifts and beats that picked up and carried the album to the end from the lighter tunes and ballads in the middle of the album.

Overall, Default “Comes and Goes” plays well, easy to listen to, hits those hard beats that keep your head nodding and definitely worthy of some airtime. You can catch them at their website at www.defaultonline.com and keep up with whats new on their facebook or tweet.

Written by: Morris Goodwin of STILLCODA

Music as a Weapon Review: Korn, Disturbed, Sevendust, In This Moment

2011-03-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

In an era where music becomes less and less original and live shows cost just as much as your cell phone bill, we get reminded there’s light in the darkness. While local radio stations play the same “hit” songs over and over again, a tour has been drawing the blood of its bands and of its fans. This tour draws attention by being real with its bands compel us to live free for a few hours. The Music as a Weapon Tour has hit across the US and has made its mark once again in Mankato MN. With known bands like Korn, Disturbed, Sevendust and In This Moment, it’s no wonder it’s grown rave reviews all across the board. A line of people, tickets in hand, band t-shirts galore and it’s only a matter of time before people feel alive again. It’s a night to remember.

Amongst the thralls of people, this is the first time for most to see In This Moment live. What they don’t know but are desperately hoping for is a show they won’t forget. In the middle of the stage, an epic mic-stand is set. Boulders of metal, skulls, antlers and heads of dolls entice the audience to pay attention. Lead singer Maria walks out and means business. Grabbing our attention, she sings acoustic until a dramatic moment of completion when the rest of the band arrives. Throughout the entire set, the energy and charisma of the band is contagious. Crowd surfers begin to pile out, fist pumps in the air and the night has officially begun. This is definitely a band worth being on this tour but also to get the venue in the right mind to have an awesome night.

Next up is definitely a local favorite almost everywhere, Sevendust. All you have to do is look at the set banner and not only does the energy rise but so does the temperature. It’s been awhile since Sevendust has graced the Minnesota area, so those who have waited patiently are about to get their much needed Sevendust dose. From the first, middle to last song, the boys put on a performance that will be remembered for years to come. The crowd involvement is something astonishing as every single person from the floor to the back bleachers are one. The bands gift for putting on a great show is little comparison to what was seen tonight. Sevendust always has a home here.

As the set changes, lights dance across the stage, fog rises and out comes Disturbed. The crowds energy and determination to keep this night alive forever, gives the band just what they need: power. A show stopping performance keeps the standard of the night going. Playing hits from the very first album to the very latest one, every song can be heard as everyone in the place sings along. Welcome back to MN Disturbed.

The real show stoppers have finally approached the stage. The signature stand is revealed and all hell breaks loose. Korn has officially marked its presence on us once again. Electrifying as always, the guys of Korn bring the night to its highest high and brand the knowledge that real music is still here. The thrumming of the bass, beats from the drums, rifts from the guitar and the passion from the vocals always makes its mark for those who love Korn. We’ve grown accustomed to expecting the very best from this band and we’re never disappointed. Maybe that’s why they’re one of the original names out there that always puts music back where it’s suppose to be.

This Music as a Weapon tour has graced it’s presence on us once again and it’s a proven fact that it will be wanted here every year. The bands fit perfectly into what this tour is all about, using music as a weapon for life and believing in something more than you. We’re reminded that we’re all important but also that there’s a world out there that is beckoning us to listen. Until another tour, we shall live in the memories of this night.

Be sure to check out all of the bands sites for news, tours and of course music!

Korn:

www.korntv.com/

www.myspace.com/korn

www.facebook.com/korn

Disturbed:

www.disturbed1.com/

www.facebook.com/Disturbed

www.myspace.com/disturbed

Sevendust:

www.sevendust.com

twitter.com/SEVENDUST

www.myspace.com/sevendust

www.facebook.com/Sevendust

In This Moment:

www.facebook.com/officialinthismoment

www.myspace.com/inthismomen

www.inthismoment.com

To see more MAAWT photos,
go to

www.stillcodaphotography.com

HELLYEAH Interview

2011-02-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

It’s another cold day in Minneapolis, but as I walk along Hennipen Avenue I notice that music from First Ave is bringing the heat. Tour buses line the streets, lines of people stand in the cold and I get greeted by none other than Chad Gray himself of HELLYEAH. Even though the chill outside, there’s a warmth and acceptance from the guys that most people don’t realize is there with this band. Not only do the members of this band have incredible music histories of their own, they’ve created a family with their fans within HELLYEAH. A new venture was made and the music scene exploded once again with real music, real people and real drive. HELLYEAH has brought back what it means to live and not give a damn about the impossibilities of life.

STILLCODA: 2007 WAS THE DEBUT ALBUM AND “LET THE STAMPEDE BEGIN” IS THE LATEST ALBUM OUT. HOW HAVE YOU GUYS GROWN AS A BAND AND AS INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN THE TWO ALBUMS?

CHAD: I think that when we started HELLYEAH, we didn’t really know each other. I mean, I knew Greg and we had talked for a long time but out of that not enough you know? Nobody had played in a two guitar player band so that was kind of weird at first. When we got together, we didn’t know what we were doing in that sense. We didn’t have the name of HELLYEAH yet, so we didn’t have that HELLYEAH fire yet. With the first record, we looked back and loved it. We toured for awhile and got to know one another which really helped the process. After that, we went back to our other commitments; me with Mudvayne and what not. We came back for the second record and we had already been dubbed “Hellyeah” so we had that kind of HELLYEAH mindset. We knew what we were, better understood what we were, what we were about since the first record. We had something to build off of; the relationships, the name and it went from there to the second record. It’s never easy but everything just kind of flowed together. Like I said, we had a better understanding of who we were so we just took off down that road. This band has been so awesome. I was nervous to go on tour in the first place because I’ve only ever done Mudvayne. So it was like for me to go from that to HELLYEAH which has a completely different vibe was really liberating for me. Mudvayne had toured back to back to back, wrote and recorded the same way and when we knew a break from all of that was coming up, I needed to do something different to keep things fresh ya know? Mudvayne will always be there but as an artist, you need to push yourself in different directions to keep yourself alive. I’m constantly working, I’m never not working. I believe that you can sleep when you’re dead so why not take advantage of everything you can while you can. I’ve been fortunate enough, lucky enough and talented enough to do these things so why not make the best of what’s around you. This band has the opportunity enough to go in several different directions in the future, whether it’s more country western, southern rock, blues, or more hard rock, which ever, there’s always that possibility.

STILLCODA: WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SEE LYRICALLY AND INSTRUMENTALLY HAPPEN WITH THE SECOND ALBUM?

CHAD: I think that lyrically wise, I worked really hard, took it very personally. I write with my life on my sleeve. I write very personal to the point where people are like they can’t believe I’d be sharing that with people. One thing that I’ve always done is look at the song as a whole. I write a lot of the songs in a way that says what things are about. If it’s some fucking heavy rift, I’m not gonna write lyrics that won’t match that feeling ya know? I’ll write on the heavy side of things to fit that. It’s gotta fit that vibe for it to work right. Lyrically and musically, that’s how we’ve approached things. I believe that HELLYEAH is built on that honesty. We don’t question what’s going to come out of it; we don’t sit and say “let’s sound like this.” We sit down and ask each other “what do ya got?” One of the guys will be like, “I’ve got this rift…” Then we kick it out there, start putting beats to it and it evolves from there. We write songs very fast from that honesty. We do the songs but we don’t over think them. I’m not saying we don’t hit snags, but if we do we work through the problem. We work in a way to make the transition work. We approach it song as what it is and let it flow into what it needs to be. There isn’t a premeditated thought or idea about what we’re gonna do, we just go with it. We might have some ideas on what we want to do and write it down. If I come up with a catch, I’ll write it down in my book for later. Like a title or something like that. A cool phrase or words that I find I like how they play off of one another.

STILLCODA: WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT MAKING THIS ALBUM?

CHAD: It was how the whole process happened and what came out of it. We are who we are. We drink, we party, we fucking barbeque, we hang out; we’re friends. The first record, we recorded at Dime’s place then this time around, Vinnie kind of converted his house into a make-shift studio. We recorded in this room that has like 40 foot ceilings that makes for great drum sounds. We hooked up cords and videos to some rooms so we could watch each other record. The essence of this record was pretty much just us being ourselves, living our lives ya know? We’d barbeque, party, hang out, all of it. We didn’t go into this looking at it as a job, we said fuck it. We’re going to do this the only way we know how and go with it. We take ourselves very seriously but not too seriously. When we’re composing music, it’s just like you see, it’s like that all the time. We’re very down to earth people. We don’t walk around with high heads saying we’re better than this person or that person; that we’re the band and you’re the fan; we say fuck that shit. Everybody has a job to do. Without the truckers, how do you get your shit from one place to the next? Without a carpenter, you don’t have a house. Without a metal worker, you don’t have a car. Everybody’s job makes the world go round, some peoples jobs are just more glamorized than others and I think that’s where we kind of understand each other. It keeps us on equal planes with everyone. I think it’s important to appreciate what everyone does.

STILLCODA: WE SAW YOU THIS SUMMER ON THE UPROAR TOUR AND SAW THE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP TO THOSE SHOWS. BETWEEN THE SMALLER VENUES AND LARGER ONES, WHICH DO YOU PREFER MORE TO PLAY?

CHAD: It is what it is, places like this (First Ave) are fucking awesome as everything’s more intimate. We can see the last person in the building. I think that gives us a stronger connection but you have to appreciate the larger venues too as there’s more people. Personally, I like the more intimate settings. It makes me feel closer to the people that make us who we are vs Joe Smith that’s way out in the fucking nosebleeds.

STILLCODA: WHEN YOU’RE OUT ON THE ROAD PLAYING WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT BANDS, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU SEE THAT GRAB YOUR ATTENTION?

CHAD: The list goes on and on (both laugh). Pretty much everyone that we play with, you find something special that you like. I’ve dubbed myself the “Ultimate Negative One” (both laugh) so I’m always looking for the positive things around. There are tons of things you see that makes bands great. There are different genres and things that make them stand out. I think it also comes from what we are too. I was fortunate enough from a young age to have a younger mother. She had me when she was pretty young so she wasn’t done being a teenager but we had a really close relationship. I grew up with Sabbath, Zepplin and the list goes on and on and on. It started with music at a very young age. I think for Vinnie too, the southern rock; Greg, the early 80’s bands, etc. A lot of the bands Vinnie listened too, I listened too as well. Van Halen, Kiss, Black Sabbath, I kind of come from those roots and along the road from there.

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT THE FANS?

CHAD: Like I said, I wear my life on my sleeve so there are people that connect with that. There are people out there that had a turbulent childhood like I did, people will come up to me and share their stories. I know where they’re at. The positive to that is that I’m talking to them, they didn’t commit suicide or are in prison. They’re standing in front of me and that’s enough. The other side to that is like young fathers and stuff that come up to me and say that they really heard the song. That it really affected them and they don’t want to be that guy. It may have helped shape them into being a different person listening to that song. We’re a product of our environment for the most part. If people are raised in an abusive environment, become abusive parents. I think those are the most positive things when people change and tell you that your song helped that change. The other side to all of this is that when it’s warm, unlike today (both laugh), we throw barbeques all the time. We invite everyone from people working backstage to the people hanging out. We front the bill for that shit. Sometimes Uproar would give us money to do it, other times we’d front the bill for it ourselves. To us it’s all about community. The other bands, the people working, the fans, radio winners etc really appreciate the memories that can come from everyone being together. It’s not like we hire people to do the cooking, Vinnie and I will be behind the grills cooking shit up for everyone ya know? (laughs). Everyone in the band is prepping and cooking, it takes all night to look around and watch people eat, drink and have a good time is what it’s all about. We get a lot of thanks for that, for being who we are.

STILLCODA: WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST AND LEAST ABOUT BEING ON TOUR?

CHAD: People look at the buses and think it’s all shiny and amazing while there are 9 dudes who don’t get any privacy in it (both laugh). You get just your bunk and that’s it. You can take advantage of your bunk though. I’ve put up my PS3 in there so when I want to get away, I can go there and chill by myself. The power of technology is amazing! (both laugh); the whole Netflix thing, IPhone and all of it. That’s probably the one thing I really do hate is the lack of privacy. Plus the constant grind of being on tour, my voice getting screamed out, being in a lot of pain from that ya know? I miss my wife, my dogs. The things I love: the feedback, the reaction from people. It’s all I know anymore. I’ve done a lot of shit in my life but this is one thing I feel that I’m really good at. I enjoy touring, always have. It’s like comparing it to being on heroin, not that I ever have but the idea that when you’re on it you can’t think of anything but being off of it but when you’re not on it, you think of nothing but being on it ya know? It’s this weird mix of love and hate in a way at times. It’s like sitting and waiting for 23 hours and 15 minutes to go live ya know? I’m living right now but to actually feel alive is to be onstage for those 45 minutes. There’s a difference between living and being alive.

STILLCODA: THERE IS DEFINETLY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVING AND BEING ALIVE AND THIS BAND PERSONIFIES THAT DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY! WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT’S COMING UP FOR HELLYEAH!

CHAD: Thank you! There’s a lot coming up so keep your eyes open for it! See you on the road!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT HELLYEAHS PAGES AND UPCOMING NEWS!

Check out HELLYEAH's new video for "Better Man"

http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/6398/hellyeah-better-man-video

WEBSITE:

www.hellyeahband.com/

MYSPACE:

www.myspace.com/hellyeah

FACEBOOK:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/hellyeahband

To see more HELLYEAH photos, go to

www.stillcodaphotography.com

Linkin Park: 1000 Suns Tour 2011

2011-01-29T16:54:00.000-08:00

It was only 2 years ago that Linkin Park was in Minnesota at the Excel Center in St Paul, and almost to the date of that second year: they have arrived again. The crowd is rumored to have been over 11,000 which isn't bad considering how cold it is here right now. The line is already down the block and packed inside the arena. People have been waiting to get in for quite some time and they're willing to wait a little longer for a band that causes screams where ever it goes. Upon entrance, the stage and all it's lighting is symbolic to the bands latest album : Thousand Suns. Triangular in shape, it gives optimum crowd coverage even if the stage is a little smaller than we first expected.

After the first 2 bands play their sets, LP is set forth to put forth another amazing show. Always impressive are the lighting effects this band chooses to display when playing any show. Flat screens flip around and reveal one very large monitor screen in the shape of a triangle. This showcases the band in various places from cameramen stationed in the pit. The crowd gets a first hand look at what it would feel like to be in the pit if they're in the seats. From LP classic songs to the newest in that line, the crowd gets them all. All in all, LP is always welcome in MN and we can't wait until they're here once again.

Be sure to follow Linkin Park's new tour and catch them in a town near you!
www.linkinpark.com

To see more photography coverage from this and many more shows, go to www.stillcodaphotography.com

Photoshoot collection

2011-01-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

Secrets Reposed Photoshoot

After months of getting things set up, I was able to get this shoot under my belt. It's an idea that's been rolling around my head for quite a while so it was time to get it put into photos. I had two amazing models, makeup/hair stylist plus my 2 assistants. I couldn't have asked for a better crew! The whole idea for this shoot was to combine a little gothic intentions with some victorian dress. Needless to say, they are familiar to each other but just on very small measures. I wanted the intensity of the gothic but the subtle touch of feminism . I decided to make the photos more grainy/dirty once editing came about. It lent that final touch of grunge I love so much.

Our location was in a church in Uptown Minneapolis. This building used to be someones home then later became the church. It was beautiful inside! From the wanes coating, furniture, light fixtures, to pretty much every detail in the space, we were able to shoot in tons of different places. Here are some phone pics:
After hair/makeup got done, Rin and Seamus were ready to shoot! After shooting the duo together, we did the solo portraits. I had a little surprise for them and brought out the fog machine for some special effects. We wanted that "chilling" factor to add more character to the finished photo. We had some problems getting it to correctly work on the stairs but it worked perfect once we got in front of the fireplace. After a hard days work, we got some fantastic photos taken! I was very proud of everyone's hard work and took the boys out for dinner to celebrate. Until the next collection, this will hold us over for a little bit ;)

So here are some shots from the day including some behind the scene shots.

After the collection was shot, I got my makeup/hair stylist in on her own little shoot. Chelsea has been a muse of mine for the last year, so it's always a blast working with her. Here's a taste of her portraits!

To see the total Secrets Reposed Collection and more photos taken that day, go to www.stillcodaphotography.com!!

Upcoming shows!

2011-01-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 28 2011!

Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns: World Tour 2011
@ Xcel Energy Cente, St Paul MN

Be sure to get your tickets before then! It's going to be a hellva' great show!!!
www.ticketmaster.com

RED: Nothing and Everything Tour coming your way!

2010-11-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

Alright Peeps! It's that time of year again where our boys in RED are back in town on another amazing tour!!!! They have two shows in MN within two days: Friday Dec 3 at Roberts in Mounds View MN and Saturday Dec 4th at New Life Worship Center in Rochester Mn. Head over to http://www.redmusiconline.com/ to catch up on the latest album info and see what the boys are up to. Its going to be another breath taking album!

UPDATE Time!

2010-10-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

It's been a very busy few months since August. There are a few surprises on the way and a lot of work has been done to get more amazing things out to you guys! Currently, we'll be adding a few more people to the mix and starting a whole new music website! The site will encompass everything music, reviews, interviews, photography and so much more! We're working on creating the website right now along with getting some amazing surprises out there! I'll be going to LA for a week then Palm Springs for another week here in Nov to get some inspiration for the new site as well! We thank everyone for their patience as we want to make sure we do it up right.

There are a bunch of sick shows coming up all over so make sure you're checking out your fav bands to see if they're coming your way.

-Chelsey of STILLCODA

Band Interview: Halestorm while on the UPROAR Tour 2010

2010-08-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Edited and Interviewed by Morris Goodwin and Chelsey Goraczkowski of STILLCODA

As we enter the dressing room, we're instantly embraced by a band we've known since their beginning. That crazy summer of Halestorm shows around the Midwest now returns to us on a much grander scale. They're right where they belong: sharing the main stage with some of music's most talented bands. We knew they'd get here and here they are!

(Lzzy: Singer Arejay: Drums Joe: Guitar Josh: Bass)

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A BAND?

Finding the catering! (laughs) All the smells and seeing the signs, but its nowhere in sight and we are hungry and no one can figure it out!

L: But you know, to keep a band together it takes a lot of time. I think in earlier years it was a little bit harder. We didn’t know each other quite well back in the day, but for the most part its easier to keep the band together because everybody is on the same page now. Still there are always challenges. Once you think you’ve had everything figured out, then there is something pains or and effects our day, like how to sell records, how to be creative and writing new songs and definitely the politics.

J: Today to be a band you have to do 4 or 5 times the work whereas a band 10 years ago hadn’t had to do so much

A: And that more work for a quarter of the results. It’s not always about the music. You have to be so much more than the band and as a whole

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS YOU HAVE WHEN YOU GUYS FIND OUT YOU’RE PLAYING FEST/TOURS?

L: Our first thought that goes through our head was this was the first date on the Uproar Tour and when we scored this spot, we were saying ‘what were they thinking!’ (laughs)
Yah know… Somebody really screwed up. I mean, we are on the main stage and I’m not saying that we don’t believe in what we do, but with everything that happens it really blows our mind that we are here.
This is quite the lineup on this tour that you probably won’t see again. All these bands under one tour, it’s kind of a once in a lifetime career thing.

J: Its surreal!

J2: It’s kinda a lot to even just go and watch, let alone be on it.

L: It definitely blows our minds.

STILLCODA: TALKING ABOUT OTHER TOURS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU PICKED UP WATCHING OTHER BANDS AND BEING A PART OF THE EXPERIENCE?

L: The fact that we need more pyro! The great thing about being with all these bands that have done it for years and years and years and are on this level and we are here, it’s like being a freshman in college from being a senior in high school. We are now freshman. We are getting hazed all over again, but it’s wonderful because its like being inducted into this old boys group with their exclusive club. And all these people have so much wisdom. We’ve been talking to Vinnie Paul a lot from Hell Yeah and he has so many great stories and all those boys have such good advice.

J: To get somebody like Vinnie Paul who we’ve looked up to our whole lives to come and say that he likes what we do is pretty mind boggling and these amazing people, the Hell Yeahs, the Avenged Sevenfolds, Disturbed and Stone Sours, they think of us as their peers and that just blows our minds. It’s very humbling.

L: Its not even so much the music, because everyone is such an amazing musician and we have learned a lot from that, but just as people, its really cool to see people who could be prima donnas and want green skittles and all that stuff, we would be fine with it. They’ve earned it, but they aren’t. They are these great down to earth people that reminds us that if and when we ever get to that point (of greatness) we don’t want to be like them.

STILLCODA: PIGGY BACKING OFF THAT, MUSIC ALWAYS HAS A PURPOSE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PURPOSE. WHAT DOES IT BRING TO YOU?

L: For me personally, I don’t know who I’d be. It became my identity at an early age. It’s become part of who I am. I don’t think I’d be the same person without it. With every year and the more I am in it, it becomes inadvertently your religion, your therapy, the way you define yourself and also how you learn. It kicks you in your butt and you learn more about yourself, though this (the tour) and through music…I need this.

J2: I think music is twofold. You can’t escape it. You see people try and you see the old guys in the bars playing. They should and they try to get away from it and you can’t.

A: It started out as an obsession. It was the only thing that we wanted to do growing up. It was tunnel vision. We knew what we wanted to do and now its evolved where all these kids and people come up to us and you get inspired to play by them watching us and that alone encourages us to keep going.

STILLCODA: NOW THAT “HALESTORM” THE ALBUM HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE, WHAT THE REACTION YOU’VE NOTICED, NOT ONLY WHEN YOU PLAY BUT WHEN FANS COME UP TO YOU?

A: Intensity.

J2: It’s been really great. People come to have a really good time, with us and the people around them. The only thing I can remember, there was one show where people were going nuts and kicking each other’s butt. That’s one thing that some people do when watching a metal show. But a lot of people don’t do that when they come to our shows. They rock out and have a great time. It weird’s me out when you see people getting hurt right in front of me. You can’t even listen to the music at the shows, its crazy, but generally they come and have a great time.

L: They are really respectful at our shows and they feel the same way we do. Rock shows are supposed to be about being together. Its’ not us and them, it’s all of us. From a lyrical standpoint, we wrote this record and me being the lyric person you write these songs very selfishly. You write them about you ‘cause you have something to say, but the great thing is now I’m seeing over the past year and a half, its’ there’s (fans). It’s about them and all of a sudden I’m seeing in a room full of people that are just like me and think like me… It’s so incredibly humbling. It’s been an amazingly overwhelming response to the meaning of these songs and to hear the stories…we’re touching people, we’re talking and its neat.

STILLCODA: THE DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL! WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE?

J2: We got there a day early and got the chance to see Pretty Vultures and ACDC perform which was pretty cool. The next day was really busy with a lot press and didn’t get to see to many bands that day, but most of them were from Rock on the Range. But it was really awesome to see some of the other bands.

STILLCODA: KINDA JEALOUS NOT GONNA LIE

J: A lot of people had no clue who we were. We were pretty much brand new at the time. A few did come back from our first Euro club run we did, but it was an incredible crowd. They love to party.

L: Yeah, just crazy in the pit In between songs, especially when we did the echo (hey hoo)

A: When we did the drum solo and only in Europe and the UK do they clap. Not only did the clap, they shouted (oye oye oye!) It was the most coolest sound I ever heard. It got me so pumped up and I was speeding up. It was amazing.

STILLCODA: YOU GUYS PLANNING ON GOING BACK?

A: Oh yeah, We’re on the Taste of Choas Tour, I think with Buckcherry, Disturbed, Papa Roach, so many others after this tour and we are going to Japan for a show to do a special and we’re pretty excited to do that and then flying all the way to Europe.

STILLCODA: YOU GUYS GOTTA ENJOY SOME OF THE FINER JAPANESE EATERYWHAT’S ONE THING YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE WHILE WATCHING YOUR SHOW?

A great time, intensity and some oye oye!

MAKE SURE TO CATCH HALESTORM ON THE 2010 ROCKSTAR UPROAR TOUR!! KEEP UPDATED ON ALL THE BAND HAPPENINGS AT:

WEBSITE:
www.halestormrocks.com/

MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/halestorm

Band Interview: New Medicine while on the UPROAR Tour 2010

2010-08-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

Edited and Interviewed by Morris Goodwin and Chelsey Goraczkowski of STILLCODA

While hanging out between buses and watching people put the Jager stage together, we sat down with all the boys of New Medicine. Needless to say, we love it when hometown bands play on National Tours this big.

(Jake: Frontman, Brady: Bass/Vocals, Dan: Guitar, Ryan: Drums)

STILLCODA: SO LET’S GET THIS UP AND RUNNING. FIRST TIME, FIRST TOUR…

J: First day ever, kickin off the Uproar tour. It’s pretty awesome.

STILLCODA: AND YOU GET TO START OFF ON A GOOD NOTE TODAY.

J: Yeah, we’re in the best town right here…Minneapolis (laughs)

STILLCODA: AND RACE TO THE BOTTOM IS YOUR FIRST ALBUM. HOW ARE YOU GUYS FEELING ABOUT IT?

J: We are very proud of the album. It took a long time for us to get what we wanted, but in the end we worked very hard and we worked with great producers. We recorded six songs at once and then took a year and half to get the best sound and the best recording that we really wanted. We feel that it is a demonstration of our dedication and we are very proud of that.

B: It’s definitely a record without filler. We came into it with something that was true to us and something you can listen to front to back. We recorded a year ago and were confident in what we made. It sounds great and we are really proud.

R: We’re excited we worked with a lot of great people and excited to get it out there for everyone to hear.

STILLCODA: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR RECORD LABEL, PHOTO FINISH?

J: It’s owned by a guy named Mac Alley. He actually discovered My Chemical Romance when they were nothing and brought them to Warner Brothers and they blew up from there brought on a lot of other great bands that we can all name. We were looking for an agency and they kinda found us one day and was signing first time bands said you guys have a great sound and we hit if off right away. Every other label was so formal. We knew they (P.F.) were with Atlantic, which is one of my favorite labels anyway and we’re definitely a band that knew what we wanted and it was cool that we could go to New York City and he say, ‘I want to sign you guys right now.’ Now that’s how you do a record deal. (laughs)

STILLCODA: YOU GUYS HAVE 3 SINGLES OUT. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THEM, SPECIFICALLY LITTLE SISTER?

J: Well little sister is about my sister, she passed away when she wasn’t even a year old, so I wrote the song about her. This year would have been her 18^th birthday, so I wrote the song on what it would be like now and how it would be different and how she would have effected my life and have her be her own person.

STILLCODA: WHEN YOU ARE OUT ON TOUR, WHAT ARE A COUPLE THINGS YOU LOOK FORWARD TO AND THAT THE FANS TAKE AWAY WITH THEM?

J: It’s been really great. All the tours we’ve done in the last year, we’ve been the opening band and it feels like a lot of people go to shows that are really excited to see the headliner and some come for the whole thing and its our job to pump everybody up. It’s always really validating and exciting to be that first act.

B: We don’t want them thinking they can just sit there. We’ll say something, like “get up”

R: And that’s the cool think about touring. You find all these little pockets of people that are willing to rock out with you. It’s wild.

STILLCODA: SPEAKING OF PLACES, WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GO?

J: We love New York and California is awesome. The weather is great there. But at the end of the day we love the coasts, but the Midwest is it. We feel at home here and going to places like Oklahoma and Canada, Chicago, Kansas City, Minneapolis. That’s where we like

STILLCODA: WHAT WAS IT LIKE AT THE BEGINNING CREATING THE BAND?

J: We all split off from another band. I (Jake) started writing songs for a new band and Dan came from the same band and we decided to stick together. Brady came from another band. Dan and I used to watch him play (bass) and he’s also an awesome frontman. Ryan was actually tuning our old drummers drums and I was like ‘wait, why isn’t he in our band.’ (laughs) We are a hybrid of everybody and started this new band and its definitely better and got along right away.

B: The band may be new, but we’ve known each other for a long time. So it happened pretty naturally.

STILLCODA: HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME, NEW MEDICINE?

B: We came up with it in the studio. One of those last minute last day... We’re out in New York recording the album for three weeks. We decided that we wanted to keep it straight and have a name, so we all snap out pen and paper that first day and write every band name. We thought we had it and then the next day we’re like ‘that was bad.’ We’d go back and forth and it was a tumultuous process. We got down to a list of three or four and New Medicine just kept coming back up and coming back up and we figured out that was definitely our name in the end.

STILLCODA: TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT JOY 2 THE WORLD AND WHY YOU WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

B: When I was in college at the U (University of MN) I did a study abroad in Ghana and it was a real wake up call to see these women work for less than nothing. I wanted to give back, so playing music and being there really made it happen for me.

We’re in the studio hanging out and went on the internet and doing research about Ghana, we found Joy 2 The World. So we started to bring some people in to work together to support Joy 2 the World and it’s a great opportunity for us to be a part of something larger. I went last January to Ghana and do some work down there with these women and it was just a great experience.

J: Maybe we should tell them what Joy 2 The World is (laughs)

B: It’s a small non-profit that gives loans to women in Ghana that they can use to start to create small businesses and gives them the means to empower themselves.

STILLCODA: IF THERE WAS ONE THING YOU WERE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS TOUR WHAT WOULD IT BE?

All: 3 meals a day…. Catering!!!

MAKE SURE TO SEE NM OUT ON THE 2010 UPROAR TOUR! TO KEEP UPDATED ON THE BAND AND UPCOMING SHOWS, CHECK OUT:

MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/newmedicine

FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/newmedicine

Band Interview: Hail the Villian while on the UPROAR Tour 2010

2010-08-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Edited and Interviewed by Chelsey Goraczkowski and Morris Goodwin of STILLCODA

We had the opportunity to speak with Bryan the frontman of Hail the Villian for a minutes and talk about the tour and the creation of all that is the band.

STILLCODA: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A PART OF THE UPROAR TOUR?

B: First of all it’s a huge honor. We got asked to do this and it is a huge huge big deal. And to have this on our first record is unbelievable. We are really stoked and ready to go.

STILLCODA: AWESOME. SO YOU GUYS STARTED BACK IN 2003. SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE FORMING THE BAND IN THE BEGINNING AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

B: When we first formed I was doing all the writing, because I had a solo record. Basically, it was a pop/punk band that Joe brought a much more dark metal sound to. I maintained that dirty rock voice, but he brought in a whole new riff oriented thing. I couldn’t play guitar anymore. I had to drop it just cause of wanting to be more of a frontman.

STILLCODA: BEING THAT YOU ARE FROM CANADA, HAS IT BEEN A CHALLENGE TO REACH OUT THE U.S. OR A SIMPLE TRANSITION?

B: It’s been a better transition, because this style of music is played down here. It’s a darker heavy sound and in Canada they like the more poppy kind of sound. I’ve actually enjoyed the shows a lot more here than the shows in Canada.

STILLCODA: SPEAKING OF SHOWS, WHERE’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GO AND PERFORM?

B: So far our top place is St. Louis. We’ve done really well there and Utah Salt Lake City is beautiful. I was blown away at how cool the city was. Stopping here in Minneapolis, unbelievable….Unbelievably crazy fans, its really cool. (AND ITS COOLER HERE THIS WEEK, SO NO 90 DEGREE WEATHER FOR YOU YET!) as well.

STILLCODA: TELL US ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM SO FAR. WHAT DO YOU FIND SURPRISING WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT?

B: Yeah, the new album. It’s not exactly new to us, I mean we recorded it about four years ago and it’s a raw very natural sounding record. We trimmed a lot of fat, so it didn’t come off as we were showing off how great we were. We wanted to really focus on songs and lyrically it’s a very dark and moving record. I think song wise, it’s a very straight forward, heavy riffs and it just feels good start to finish.

STILLCODA: HAVING BEEN ON YOUR WEBSITE, HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO MOVE INTO the creative OTHER MEDIA ART? I MEAN YOU HAVE ANIMATED SHORTS AND A WHOLE INTERACTIVE WEB. AND COMIC BOOKS!

B: The comic books are done, and are ready to come out, which is awesome. The short films are being made by Avato (Studios). We were just over in Singapore and they were talking about doing the full movie in 3D and talked to a movie director and wrote an entire movie. We talked about a matter of having both song and visual be part of the business. It’s all art and we really wanted to partake in every aspect of it and that’s what we are shooting for.

STILLCODA: VERY COOL. YOU ARE DEFINITELY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PACK.

B: I think a lot of band will kind of follow suit and start to say, ‘we can make money,’ but for us it was more like bullshit we got this great ideas, we love bringing together all the pieces and the record company was lucky. We were lucky enough that they were willing to do it and jumped on board and got it rolling. They were more of a bank for us. (laughs)

STILLCODA: SOME THING THE FANS ALWAYS LIKE TO KNOW ARE, WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES IN THE ROCK WORLD?

B: I’m definitely down with a lot of the frontmen. You know, I’m down with those such as Axel Rose, Steven Tyler, Vince Neal, those guys that really know how to throw a show and captivate the audiences. For the band it so varies. For me as a musician I like punk rock. Joe is more Megadeath and Van Halen, so we get those influences and that’s what really our music comes from.

STILLCODA: AND FINALLY, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO TALK AWAY FROM THE TOUR?

B: I hope that with every tour we do we sit and watch every band and we learn. We got to watch Sevendust and holy shit man. My God…..You know what though. They were really cool and they really liked us. They would watch all our shows from backstage and asked us to come back on another tour with them. We hope it’s possible, so we learn from these bands. These bands have been around. They done it. We always learn from them. I hope to learn to put on a bigger show, a better show, tighter show and I hope to say to myself, when I’m done that, holy crap that was the best experience of my life. That’s what I hope to take away.

Make sure you check out HTV while they're on the 2010 UPROAR Tour!! To get the latest info on the band and upcoming shows, check out:

WEBSITE:
www.hailthevillain.com

MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/hailthevillain

FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/hailthevillain

2010 Rockstar Uproar Tour Review

2010-08-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

This year, the only thing so many of us couldn’t wait to come was August 17. Why do you ask? Why would you ask is my first question? But then again, I think it depends on where you live and if this is coming your way. Which it’s coming all across the United States, so it damn well is coming your way! That’s right; I haven’t told you what “this” is. One music festival: Rockstar Uproar Tour. Yeah, that’s right. Now you know why so many of us couldn’t sit still the week before Uproar kicked off it’s very first show here in Minneapolis MN. Celebrating another year of amazing music, Uproar grabbed the best line up so far: Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Halestorm, HELLYEAH, Airbourne, New Medicine and Hail the Villain. Damn fine line up for those of us that have already seen this fist pumping, mosh breaking, attitude wearing crowds.

To start off the day, we journeyed a few blocks away from the Target Center where the outside festival would kick off this year’s tour. A massive crowd has already pushed its way to the lot, grabbing a few Rockstar Energy Drinks along the way. While everyone so “patiently” waits for the music to begin, several of the sponsors are getting things underway too. Best Buy has a line built up for meet & greets of some of the festivals bands; the Marines are testing some daring crowd members to test their strength; Jager is getting the party started for those of us old enough to partake of course; and all the various bands and other sponsors merch tables are filled with eager fans grabbing up t-shirts.

To hit the stage first is Hail the Villian. And do they ever get the crowd going. Being a “neighbor” to us “Minnesotans,” we’ll pretty familiar with the way bands hit the stage while they’re here. And we’re never disappointed. Gearing the crowd up the rest of the day is a huge responsibility few will partake in unless necessary. You would never know they were the openers. High energy, strong vocals, gritty guitars, pulse pounding bass and drums is only the beginning to a great day. (Make sure to check out our interview with HTV too!)

Up next is our local favorite band New Medicine. I didn’t think there was a way for the crowd to expand more, but apparently people started to find a way to crowd themselves in. Amongst the crowd are fans and family that have come out to support NM in their first “big time” tour. The second the music starts, everyone “gets” why they’re on the bill. There’s no denying these boys have talent very few possess and few ever will. Pleasing the crowd with everything they have to give and more is exactly what catches everyone’s attention. If you were to look at your leg, you’d notice it was automatically tapping to the beats and you’d find yourself humming the tunes. They’re that damn catchy! The funny but edged guys have a way with the crowd that only proves they’re in the right spot. (Make sure to check out our interview with NM too!)

As the stage changes, Airbourne makes their appearance. Being here just a few months ago, the band keeps creating more and more fans just by putting on one helleva show. Grit bearing guitar solos, pushed rhythm and fast paced drums keeps your eyes on the stage. There’s nothing better than seeing a guitar player climbing on various things while grinding out a sick solo. It’s a signature move you can’t wait to see.

What’s history without it’s influences right? The final band to play on the Jager stage is one that is filled with so much talent; it almost pukes it out cause it’s too amazing to try to control. But that’s exactly the point, there’s no reason to contain anything. HELLYEAH is that band the burns the word contain into a pile of ashes while laughing as they do it. The crowd goes insane and you expect nothing less. Your jaw drops and your eyes don’t blink for fear of missing this band perform right in front of your face. Very few words can be spoken that would come close to how amazing it is to watch HELLYEAH. The crowd walks away in a numbed happiness a few probably haven’t felt in awhile.

Everyone walks back to the Target Center and is back to the anxiousness they feel every time they wait for a show to start. The floor is full, seats are filled up and the concert begins with a bang.

Halestorm enters with voice first. You hear Lzzy singing while trying to find out where she’s hiding. She enters the stage and everyone goes crazy! A fan favorite for so many, they know how to bring a crowd. As they play their set, everyone’s adrenaline gets pumping, hearts start racing and excitement builds. All of the sudden, the entire band breaks down to play the drums in a show stopping performance. It’s no wonder Halestorm is wanted by every guy and girl in the crowd, there’s something about their confidence and charisma that stands out to even the quietest sections of the Center. (Make sure to check out our interview with Halestorm too!)

Who comes on next except a band that has made waves in the industry for it’s collection of talent? Stone Sour. That’s all that really needs to be said. While Slipknot fans aren’t seeing the entire band in costume, they are seeing a few of the real members face to face. There’s a whole new meaning to the word elation when Corey is fixed on the crowd. His raw voice and fluid connection with the crowd is one very few bands have. Jumping over speakers to reach the crowd is exactly what was ordered. Let’s all get 5 orders of that please!

Now the real drama begins. The crowd starts chanting “Sevenfold” until their voices are raw and their neighbors ears are punctured. The sheet is withdrawn and the stage is…well…speechless. Filling the stage is an amazing set of arched gateways and brick posts with changing backgrounds. Smoke rolls off the floor and pryos begin. Once each band member walks on stage, there’s no turning back for either the band or the crowd. Connected to one another as Family is what they’re known for, but until you feel it yourself, you don’t quite understand. Playing several songs off their new record is a tribute to their late drummer, The Rev. Every single beating heart in that venue is one and bows their head to a lost one head dear to so many. Each song is a testament to why this band has gotten so far and why their “family” is everywhere. Stage theatrics are only the icing on the cake for most. The spell binding guitar solos from both Gates and Vengance are impacted into your limbs as nothing other than exactly that: spell binding. Shadows controls the attention of every single person while Christ owns the entire stage. While remembering their lost brother, their performance is perfected by that very brotherhood. A7X’s soul crunching performance is why every single person came to this tour.

What better way to end a historical night than to end it with a “little” band called Disturbed. The die hard band and it’s fans tend to always create a few memories neither are willing to forget. Debuting a few songs off the upcoming record, the crowd grows wicked. Moshing is now in order and sweaty people are happily being pushed into the people on all sides of them. Each song turns up the tempo. Playing the mixture of new upcoming songs with the favorites is successful for Disturbed. Everyone craves the new cd and once they get a taste of it, the need of getting it drives them crazy. Releasing all that pent up energy is good for the soul most say. I quite agree.

As the shows come to a conclusion, each person to walk out of that building has left changed even if it’s only a tiny bit. They’ll forever remember what it was like to be apart of this tour. When they’re at work, dreading the next few hours, all they’ll have to do is think on this night and know there are things worth waiting for. Until next year, we’ll all keep a count down until the next Uproar tour is underway.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS AT

WWW.STILLCODAPHOTOGRAPHY.COM!!

DON'T FORGET TO LURK ON OUR UPROAR INTERVIEWS AS WELL AT:

http://stillcoda.blogspot.com/

Make sure to get your ass to an Uproar show near you!

Band Interview: Airbourne

2010-06-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

After a few years of major touring, 2 records, countless traveling around the world and creating a show stopping routine, Airbourne is finding themselves in the “Greatness” book. Just finishing up with a tour with Bullet For My Valentine and Chiodos, the boys are finding they’re exactly where they need to be: performing music they believe in. The best part is, their fans agree with them 100%.

STILLCODA: HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS THERE FOR LIVING UP TO “RUNNING WILD” SUCCESS?

RYAN: Well, I think with the first album, there are a lot of things that we didn’t know when recording an album. We’ve learned a lot and with the second album (“No Guts, No Glory) we knew what to expect. So we had to knuckle down and get a lot of songs together and pretty much let the songs run their own competition. Then eventually throw them down and made sure to record them live.

STILLCODA: BETWEEN BOTH ALBUMS, WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS LIKE? WAS ONE “HARDER” TO PUT TOGETHER, ETC?

RYAN: I think with the first one, we had our whole life to write out whereas with the second one, we wrote it on the road. We still had a good two years of touring that we spent on the road just putting ideas down. From there, when we go home, we managed to get all the rifts together from sound checks and stuff. Once we had that, we started putting them into songs.

STILLCODA: THE BAND HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE ROAD. HOW MUCH TIME OFF DID YOU HAVE IN BETWEEN ALBUMS?

RYAN: Yea, we basically toured non stop for two whole years. It gave us a lot of opportunities to headline shows where we’d have a lot of sound checks so we were able to play around with a lot of rifts.

STILLCODA: HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRBOURNES SIGNATURE SOUND WHILE EVOLVING MUSICALLY ON “NO GUTS, NO GLORY?”

RYAN: Well I guess we’ve always been happy with the way we sound and it’s something that will always be an Airbourne thing. We always try to spice it up a bit but we keep the drums and vocals straight forward.

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE YOU GUYS EXPECTING TO COME OUT OF THE UPCOMING “ROCKSTAR UPROAR” FESTIVAL COMING UP WITH AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DISTURBED, HALESTORM, ETC?

RYAN: Yea, it looks like it’s going to be a great festival. The last time we did something like that was 2 years ago at Mayhem and it was just a blast. There were a lot of car parked BBQ’s and everyone was just fun. We’re just looking forward to getting on the whole festival thing again and be on stage.

STILLCODA: AWESOME! WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE YOU ON THAT BILL, THAT’S FOR SURE. STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME TRACKS ON THE NEWEST RECORD THAT HIT CLOSEST TO YOU?

RYAN: “Born to Kill” is a good one. The reason is cause its very fast for me so it hits me more. It’s something I have to make sure I keep up the pace with.

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR “RITUALS” BEFORE A SHOW THAT ALLOW YOU TO GET READY FOR SONGS LIKE THAT?

RYAN: We just sort of have a couple of beers, but we pretty much just want to get up there and have fun.

STILLCODA: WHAT’S THE GREATEST “GIFT” YOU’VE GOTTEN SO FAR?

RYAN: Uh, Moonshine! We got some in a mason jar. It was the gift that did a lot to my head the other day and the day after….(both laugh).

STILLCODA: ARE THERE ANY TRICKS OF THE TRADE THAT HAVE HELPED SAVE MOMENTS WHILE PLAYING?

RYAN: Pretty much when anything goes wrong, we just have a laugh. Just laughing at it helps. There are some things that you can’t fix right away so you have to laugh about it and move on.

STILLCODA: ANY SPECIFIC TRADITIONS THAT THE BAND HAS HAD SINCE THE BEGINNING?

RYAN: That’s a good question (sits there thinking for a bit). Listening to certain tapes which can be weird if you knew who they were (laughs).

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH FANS COMING UP TO YOU?

RYAN: We have a lot of people come up to us and say it’s a “breath of fresh air” to hear us play. That they’ve been waiting for a band like that so yeah, it’s awesome hearing that.

STILLCODA: WHAT’S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE TOURING THE US VS AUSTRALIA?

RYAN: The biggest thing is size I think. The US has cities all over whereas Australia has only 5 big parts to it. You have to fly to get to the big cities. Here, you spend all your time in a tour bus with a lot of driving. It’s great because every state’s different than the next so you can explore. It’s culturally different as well and is always a lot of fun.

STILLCODA: TOURING WITH BFMV RIGHT NOW, WHAT’S BEEN THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS TOUR?

RYAN: Playing early and drinking later (both laugh). Just being back again, it’s been awhile. And we are very much looking forward to the Uproar tour coming up.

STILLCODA: WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE TOURING WITH BULLET?

RYAN: it’s been great! The crowds have been fantastic especially with younger crowds. It’s been a nice comfortable tour to be on.

STILLCODA: THAT’S AWESOME! WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK THIS WAY SOON! WE’LL EVEN MAKE SURE TO HAVE SOME BEERS WAITING FOR YOU.

RYAN: That’s great! We’ll definitely take you up on that!

STILLCODA: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US AND WE’LL SEE YOU SOON!

RYAN: Thank you!

To check out photos from the show, go to: www.stillcodaphotography.com

Make sure you check out more of AIRBOURNE at:
www.airbournerock.com
www.myspace.com/airbourne
http://twitter.com/airbourne
http://www.facebook.com/airbournerock
http://www.youtube.com/airbournerock

Bullet For My Valentine, Chiodos, Airbourne and Arcanium at First Ave Concert Review

2010-05-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

Late one night, I was doing my usual concert searches when I got an email and a text message saying that there was this tour coming my way. All I got in the email was the venue, First Ave. Then as I looked at the date on the site, my pulse went up and my eyes got huge. Who do I find on the calendar for this date? A defying list of noteworthy bands that are finally put together on one bill: Bullet For My Valentine, Chiodos, Airbourne and Arcanium. I instantly knew this was one of those shows that you would never want to miss out on. And I was completely right.

On stage first is a band from Colorado called Arcanium. In all honesty, no one had really heard of the band but knew that if they were on the same bill as BFMV they had to be good. And prove their worth they did. A little death metal or hardcore metal for some of you, Arcanium brought energy, charisma, talent and personality to the stage. Getting the crowds involvement is a hard thing to do when you’re the opening set. It didn’t phase this band at all. They drew the crowd in and delivered a great performance. Before they part the stage, the crowd yells their phrases and rush over to the merch table. They have a bright future ahead of them and Minneapolis will welcome them back anytime.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence

and entertainment-

8/10

Next to appear, is a band well known throughout Australia but has made a name for themselves here in the States: Airbourne. I spoke with Airbourne a few hours before the show doing an interview (check out the page for the interview!). What was to be expected: a hellva great time. Airbourne’s visited the Twin Cities before on different tours and have never let the crowd down for a show stopping adventure. Tonight, that’s no different. Killing the show with nonstop guitar rifts and vocals, every member of the band throws a little of themselves into each note made. The house is already banging their heads and fist pumps are everywhere. In the middle of one song Joel, lead signer, jumps off stage and climbs the stairs off to the side. Hanging over the railing on the landing, he grits out the most wicked guitar solo the crowd’s seen! Never one to not surprise the crowd, this is one of the signature moves Airbourne brings to the table. Or bar top, speakers, stairs, or anything else Joel can stand on.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence

and entertainment-

8.5/10

Next to hit the stage is a band best described as hardcore. That’s the only word that truly makes the most sense. The crowd is already pushing and chanting “Chiodos” to the point of moshing more than just bodies. As soon as the band appears, the crowd goes insane! Teenagers are actually beating past the other generations of people to get to the front. I nod my head in salute to their daring in all honesty. Lights go out then burst back on in a flourish dance of color and dominating presence. Then the band plays. I’ve been to more than my share of concerts and covered bands of various “measures.” The crowds vary with each show but this one…wow. Only after 2 songs, the entire house has lost it’s mind. As I get out of range of fire from everyone, I see how this band ensnares it’s fans so easily. What a power to have. As they continue ripping the stage, I realize this is how the band has made such a name for itself: they don’t hold back. Ever. Show stopping and jaw dropping, Chiodos has opened doors and eyes throughout the music world. Even after they play the last song, the crowd chants “One more song” for several minutes afterwards. If only the show could last forever, their wish would have been granted. My conclusion of Chiodos: hardcore.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence

and entertainment-

9/10

The heat turns up, there’s only inches from one person to the next and “Bullet! Bullet! Bullet!” is being called. The excitement builds until it explodes as they finally walk the stage. Instant stimulation of every sense a person has is being tested. Your eyes are given a feast: strobe lights, colors and your favorite band. Your ears are treated with your favorite songs. Your voice is lost among the rest. Your temperature rises and sweat drips off your face. All your other senses, well…they’re combined until you’re overloaded. It’s a blissful thing and the crowd is thriving on it. BFMV starts off with “Your Betrayal” then hits with other crowd favorites like “Fever,” “Waking the Demon,” “Tears Don’t Fall,’ “The Last Fight,” and “Scream, Aim, Fire.” The security in the pits has their hands full of crowd surfers coming from every direction while watching the moshers push their worries away. I walk up to the second level and what you see there is even more than what you think you see on the ground level. The entire place is moving like bees on a beehive. It’s a crazy mass of energy that intensifies with every song. The band exits the stage but only to return to favor the crowds outburst for more. BFMV graces us with “Begging For Mercy,” “Hand of Blood” and “Alone.” Nothing compares to seeing a band play for their crowd. Even as the concert ends, people are still smiling while recalling their favorite parts of the night. Some of them are even worse for wear but act as if that is exactly what they went there for. Bullet.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment-

10/10

Make sure and check out each band along with this show stopping tour!

Bullet For My Valentine:

www.bulletformyvalentine.com

Chiodos:

www.myspace.com/chiodos

Airbourne:
www.airbournerock.com

Arcanium:
www.myspace.com/arcaniumband

Sick Puppies, Shinedown & Breaking Benjamin Concert Review

2010-05-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been beyond fortunate enough throughout my career to see some gifted bands play. It only gets better when these bands collide and create one massive Rock show. It doesn’t matter who the headliner is in this case for it’s the opening bands that create the environment for that band. It’s always the anticipation that gets to you as you’re looking for the bands that are opening these huge shows. Sometimes it’s a little of “Awesome! I know all these bands!” or “I know that one, but not the other one…” In this case, it doesn’t matter. All that matters, is that you’re about to get your face rocked off with: Sick Puppies, Shinedown and Breaking Benjamin.

I remember seeing Sick Puppies back in the day when they were first touring around the US with Finger 11 and various other artists. From the first few songs, I was hooked. This 3 person band from Australia brings more rock than some American bands. I only say that because they can prove it many times over. Opening for 3 major acts can be intimidating for some bands, but they handled it like pros and acted as it didn’t matter what size the crowd nor venue was. They’d still put on a hellva great show. Mixing a couple of old songs off their record “Dressed up as Life” and “Tri-Polar,” the crowd got a good mix of how they’ve gotten so far and where they’re going. The only thing I wished for their set was for them to have a larger set list. Once you get a taste of the music, it makes you want more.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 8/10

In the world of madness, a band has always announced itself as one of its creations: Shinedown. With 3 widely known CD’s, Shinedown is known for their masterful vocals, defying guitar rifts, mood changing bass and tempo creating drums. I’ve watched them over the years as well and every time seeing them only gets better. They keep with their signature style while revolutionizing the way they bring the show. Never ones to shy away from anything, Shinedown reintroduced Minnesota to what real music is and how it’s evolved. Always humble, they graciously share the stage with every band they’ve ever played with while remembering those we’ve lost in months/years past. The soulful vibes this band brings to the table is one to give you shivers and remind you real musicians are born, not made.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9/10

I’ve seen Breaking Benjamin 3 times just this year and no matter how many times I see or talk about them, the response is always the same: Brilliant. I’m leaving this review as simple as I can. If you want the details, check out the previous reviews.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9/10

KoRn Concert Review

2010-05-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how long you’ve followed a band, been a fan for years; listened to their CD’s to non-existence; then to finally seeing them live, you’re still in awe. You hear stories from fans all over the world saying their perspectives on the band and it still doesn’t hit home until you’re there, standing amongst the crowds. I can say there are several bands that go in this list but I can only speak for one band that stands out in my mind: KoRn.

I think I stood there with my mouth open the first few songs until I was able to think properly. Out of all those accounts you’ve heard, no one else’s will compare to your own view. No matter the history or problems any band has, what matters is the music and show they put on. Of course playing the crowds favorite songs doesn’t hurt either. From “Coming Undone,” “Freak on a Leash,” to “Falling Away From Me,” “Throw Me Away,” “Somebody Someone” to even an encore with “Clown”, “Shoots and Ladders” and “Got the Life;” everyone got exactly what they expected plus more. Playing these songs is only one part, the other part is the energy the give and receive. The arena is one family and is sharing the moment together. JD also gifts us with something so uniquely him, it leaves little question to why we love this band. One word: bagpipe. If you’ve never seen this, you’re missing out on something amazing, words can barely describe it. So I don’t think I’ll even try to.

There’s always a lot of talk and hype made for every band that comes around. No matter how long they’ve been around or what they bring to the table, it’s the nature of people. For once, I’ll say the rumors are true: KoRn is one band you HAVE to see and will thank me for it later.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and ente

rtainment-

10/10

RED, Far From Falling, Throw The Fight and The Action Blast show Review

2010-05-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

Whenever a show comes to the area, most people have about 3 reactions once they see the bands listed: I’m going. I wish I could go but damn work! Hmm, this sounds like a good show but I’ve never seen these bands live before. Tonight was a night of firsts for a few people. 2 of the 3 reactions came across a 15yr olds face when I told him who I was taking him to see for his very first concert. Who better for a “newbie” (as us seasoned people like to call them), to see for their first concert than 3 phenomenal local bands and one jaw dropping national band? I think that’s one fine list to me. So this time, I’m taking us through memory lane and describing the show as you would see it through a newbie’s eyes. My only reaction: awe inspiring. Tonight’s list: Far From Falling, Throw the Fight, Action Blast and RED. Like I said, one hell of a great line up if I say so myself.

First to open the show is Far From Falling. A local band from Minneapolis, this band starts the show off with vocals and beats that draw the eyes and ears. Even this early in the show, the crowd has come to show support. Most of the time, when we think of local bands, we think “Well, they could be good if…” Not this time. We KNOW this band is good and is making it just by listening to them play. Lighting and fog effects edged with soul moving vocals, gifted guitar players, rhythm making bass and beat making drums shows us just that. Each band member gets lost in the moment and as a part of the crowd, you feel it in the music.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 8.5/10

Next to perform is Throw the Fight. Another local band from the area, TTF opens their show with a bang. You instantly notice 3 guitar players versus the normal 2 and see the energy each member brings to the table. Introducing tunes we’ve heard on the radio and ones that we haven’t, TTF offers a variety of beats to get the blood moving. The crowd involvement picks up and soon it’s a great show by this band.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 8/10

Up next is The Action Blast from Chicago. After only being together since December 2009, it’s impressive to see them already sharing the stage with National acts. As the first few songs play, a small but aggressive mosh pit begins. The first pit of the night to become something energy building while adding to the anticipation of what’s to happen next. The show continues and the crowd gets larger. AB notices and steps it up a notch and gets the crowd involved in a song. As one, the entire place picks it up a step and is excited all over again.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 8/10

Last, but not least, is RED. The crowd is thick with people and tension builds as they wait for this one band to appear. Lights dim and the real music begin. Pushing through the crowd to the front is what seems to be everyone’s prerogative. Kicking off their show, RED plays fan favorites ranging from “Fight Inside,” “Already Over,” Overtake,” “Pieces” and so many more. As you look around, every single person is singing each note of every song. The music is drawing out everything every person has to give right at that moment. Just like Michael, Anthony, Randy and Joe are giving to us. As “Pieces” begins, Randy plays the keyboard and all eyes are riveted on his hands. As Anthony and Michael begin their portion, you get lost in the moment, lighters appear and hands are in the air. Amongst the cheering, tunes change to a remix of certain well known songs with familiar beats. Everyone leaves the stage and Joe appears at his drum kit. While the remix is played, he creates the beat of each song and needless to say, the effect is jaw dropping. The faster he goes, the more the trance he holds over on everyone. In all of the drum solos I’ve ever seen, I have never seen one with this type of mix or feeling. From the newbie’s stand point, none other will compare to this one. The rest of the band appears and plays a few more songs and the crowd goes even wilder. The vocals Michael and Randy present, give a new meaning to the balance you need to have as a band. The enthusiasm Anthony gives while moving all around the stage, reminds you to move yourself. Joe’s constant beats give you a measure that only you can feel. As they walk off the stage, chanting begins for “One more song!” and “RED RED RED!” Even being apart of the crowd, you know the band has to be smiling from ear to ear just hearing this. It’s louder than anything and only few bands gets this type of response. Instead of gracing us with one more song, they give us two, “Ordinary World” and “Breathe Into Me.” As the show ends, the appreciation and love this band has for their fans is seen in their faces. The meet and greets begin and the night closes to an end. For someone who has never seen this band or any band play live before, it is one memory you’ll always remember and smile back on. The response from the newbie was quite simply, “Wow. That was AMAZING!”

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 10.5/10

Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie: Gruesome Twosome Tour Review

2010-05-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

What comes to your mind when you think of concerts? What bands do you want to share the stage with each other? What is it that you’re looking for in a great show? I have a prime example of all these things and more. Although, in all honesty, I really only need to say two bands and the answers are clear: Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper. See? All those images and thoughts that are flickering in your mind right now is exactly what I’m talking about. The Gruesome Twosome tour is everything and more.

To kick off the night, Alice Cooper and his band mates kick off the show. He has always been known for his stage theatrics and he definitely doesn’t disappoint. Balloons filled with confetti are bounced around and popped all over the crowds: they revel in it. Swords, leather, stage hands, a nurse, whips, deaths and so much more are being filed in everyone’s minds. There’s nothing better than seeing an iconic rock star “killing” on stage in more ways than one! But then again, you would expect nothing less coming from Cooper. Upon entering the crowd and watching the expressions being given, you know there’s some dreams coming true. Whether it’s seeing Cooper on stage for the first time, seeing theatrics that include more than 3 “deaths” or just being able to say “I went to THAT show,” you know this is going to be a night everyone will remember. I talked with some friends and found out that they’ve seen Cooper live several times over the years. Their response, “You always know it’s going to be a great show and you never leave disappointed.” Everyone that’s here will agree. I for one will forever have the pleasure of saying I got to see Alice Cooper perform like none other.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9.5/10

As the stage is being hidden by a large black drape, you immediately wonder, “What’s happening next?!” There are very few times where you’ll see the stage being covered while equipment is being changed and the next set is being put up. The crowd packs in closer and waits eagerly for the lights to dim. Among the Zombie and Cooper shirts pressed in on one another, a little boy of about 7 is grinning from ear to ear off to the side. His dad is standing behind him pointing things out. Even at such a young age, it’s awesome to know that kids enjoy music just as much as the adults. And the show begins. Three large flat screens are seen with the drum kit on top. The music starts and all hell breaks loose. Rob Zombie appears. I didn’t think more hell could break loose, but apparently I learned there’s always a little more room for it to grow. Between the flat screens lighting shows, pyros and beats, the crowd gets lost in the moment. As Zombie runs all over the stage, you never question the energy that he alone brings to the table. As each song is sang, the atmosphere is charged and the show begins anew. Now everyone knows from seeing Zombie live, why he’s made a name for himself in the music community as one of the best acts to see. If you haven’t seen him live, what are you waiting for?!
-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 10/10

Adelitas Way, Chevelle and Three Days Grace show review

2010-04-04T20:31:00.001-07:00

The Minneapolis music scene is always a combination of Local and National bands rolling through. No matter the genre of music, there’s always someone touring through the country and stopping in our artistic city. Some differ on what shows are the best, which bands sound amazing and also which have the most intriguing stage presence of them all. With all the venues in the Twin Cities areas, one is visited by some amazing talent every so often. Tuesday was no difference in this case. Coming to town was Three Days Grace, Chevelle and Adelitas Way. Of course, all of these gifted bands have been here before, but not together on a tour like this one.

Most concerts, the same type of actions happen. Most fans don’t show up to the show until the second band hits the stage, but not this time. Adelitas Way kicks off the concert with grace and hard edged sounds. People are instantly gravitating towards the stage and packing themselves together. Each member is electrifying to watch, each grabbing the attention of each fan in the crowd. Their sound is crisp, the stage energy is through the roof and the concert starts off as a huge success. There’s a lot to be said for a band that can do this with some major headliners after them. Adelitas Way does it in style. Playing songs like “Invincible,” “Dirty Little Thing,” “My Derailment,” and so many more, we get a strong taste of what this band from Las Vegas has to offer. Welcome to the Twin Cities boys, you will always be welcomed here! Get ready for some more show requests here.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9/10

Next up is a very well known favorite, Chevelle. They hit the stage harder and louder each time you see them. They rock the stage with hit favorites along with fan favorites from every album. Crowd suffers galore, the temperature heats up and so do the guys of Chevelle. The crowd interaction is astonishing and I’m able to capture it through a lens. With each song, Chevelle once again prevails as why they’re one of the best bands to see live. With strobe lights and smoky effects, they will definitely stand out in people’s memories for years to come. As always, the band performs superbly and is left with no question that they have hardcore fans here.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9.5/10

Last but not least, Three Days Grace walks on stage. I have seen them many times and each time is better than the last. Always starting the show off with a bang, pyros set the theme for the remainder of the evening. Graving us with our favorite songs like “I Hate Everything About You,” “Home,” “Just Like You,” “Last to Know,” “Break” and several more, you’re brought back to memories throughout your life. Each note is hit with precision, each beat is felt through the bass and drums, each chorus is sung aloud by everyone in the crowd. It leads you to one conclusion; Three Days Grace is as strong as ever and will continue to get bigger. Time will tell when they are back in town, but we will be patiently waiting until then.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9.5/10

Make sure and check out each band along with this show stopping tour!

Adelitas Way:

www.adelitaswaymusic.net

Chevelle:

www.chevelleinc.com

Three Days Grace:
www.threedaysgrace.com

Tour Review: Flyleaf, Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace

2010-01-30T22:25:00.000-08:00

Tour Review: Flyleaf, Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace

Every year, there are tours that people mark on their calendars months in advance. They rarely question themselves as to if they should, want or can go: they just do it. I’m always intrigued when bands start talking about tours and who they’ll possibly be on the road sharing the stage with for months at a time. Every single person has their favorite bands they’d love to see on tour together. The gossip as to who is in the final acts is always a little maddening for those of us that have waited patiently for certain bands to hit the road again. There’s not a doubt in my mind about one specific tour always being a guaranteed show stopper: Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace. This time around however, another amazing band is added to the bill: Flyleaf. Each of these bands are in their own rights beyond talented and put on a hell of a show as headliners, but add them together as a whole: you have a new meaning to a damn great night of music and entertainment.

The tour has just begun and one of the first 5 stops is in Mankato MN. It’s freezing and there are tons of people already in line scoping out the tours merchandise through the windows. It’s almost hard to tell what band is “the favorite” as the amount of people wearing every bands shirt is almost overwhelming. Everyone here is here for every single band. There’s no doubt that it’ll be a show to remember. And no one is disappointed.

On stage first is the female lead band: Flyleaf. Just releasing a new album and music video, the rave on this band is quite understandable. The crowd is immense and packed with kids from the age of 11 to adults of 50 something. Flyleaf starts off with a bang and leads us into a story of inspiration. The connection in which each band member has with the crowd leads you speechless in a way. The energy and charisma of everyone on stage, amps up the volume of the crowd a few more notches. Mixing songs off their first album Flyleaf like “I’m So Sick,” “Fully Alive,” “All Around Me” to their newest album Memento Mori’s “Again,” “Beautiful Bride,” “Arise,” “Missing” “Set Apart This Dream” and “Have We Lost” are played as well. During each song, Lacey sweeps people off their feet by surprising them with the large voice she carries within. Each song is dedicated to inspiring others to being something more for themselves but for others as well. To not be afraid of being yourself and believing in the gifts you already have. If there’s one thing to be said about Flyleaf, it’s the power of inspiration this band has. For those 30 plus minutes they’re on stage, you believe and find contentment in the world around you. With Sameer and Jared guiding with guitars, Pat creating the rhythm and James following through with drums, Lacey is left to create melodies with her dynamic voice. There isn’t a better band to start this show off right.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9/10

Second to hit the stage is Breaking Benjamin. It’s been a little while since they’ve been on the road but releasing a new cd not too long ago makes up for the absence. Starting off the show with “So Cold” and moving into other hits like “Polyamorous,” “Sooner or Later,” “Breath” and “Diary of Jane” are played as some of the fans favorites. Introducing the newest CD Dear Agony, “I Will Not Bow,” “Dear Agony,” “Give Me a Sign” and a tribute to the soldiers “Into the Nothing” are represented proudly. An acoustic song is also thrown into the mix with Ben and Aaron playing “Dream On” by Aerosmith. The uniqueness of lead singer Benjamin Burnley’s voice is something to marvel at just listening to on a CD, but listening to him live is even better. Watching Mark engage with everyone in the crowd lets everyone feel apart of one another. Aaron’s ability to play the guitar while charming each note is something every guitarist needs to practice. Let’s not forget Chad sitting in a jaw dropping drum set, playing beats very few have talent for. The crowd involvement is something to behold with this band. Everyday problems are forgotten while these four guys play an unforgettable bill. This band is well known for it’s love of our US Soldiers and every show they’ve played, a tribute to those heroic men and woman is never forgotten. We all took a moment to remember those who have fallen but also to those who are still serving. It’s one more thing to admire about Breaking Benjamin.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 9/10

Last to hit stage is Three Days Grace. Like Flyleaf and Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace just dropped a new album as well. What better way for these three bands to push their new records than with a tour together? The energy of everyone in the building is astounding to behold within the first few songs. The bill consists of hits like “I Hate Everything About You,” “Animal I have Become,” “Just Like You,” “Never Too Late,” “Riot,” “Pain,” “Home” and their newest single “Break” rounds out the show. With a few extra songs in between, every single person in the crowd sings every word to each song. With a little surprise for the fans, Adam appears on a mini stage by the sound booth in the middle of the floor while Neil plays an unforgettable drum solo while the entire drum set turns in a circle. Turning back to see Barry wail some major guitar rifts, anyone with a camera is madly clicking away at the sights before them. Rounding out the rhythm is Brad on bass, head banging to each note he creates. Only when you don’t think the night could get any better, the stage is lit up with pyros and heat! The crowd goes crazy while upping their volume 5 times louder than what it already was. It’s a perfect ending to an unbelievable night of great music, talented musicians and unattainable energy.

-My rating based on voice/instruments sound, stage presence and entertainment- 10/10

This tour is by far one of the best tours to see this year! Every band has it’s own individuality but as a whole, they make for an unforgettable evening as one of the best tours to ever be created. Find a city near you and get your tickets to see Flyleaf, Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace. It’s a tour to experience at least once in your lifetime and one that you’ll want to repeat every year from here on out.

To see photos from this show, go to www.stillcodaphotography.com

Make sure you check out tour dates and each band’s websites for upcoming information!

Flyleaf:
www.flyleafmusic.com
www.myspace.com/flyleaf
Twitter: @flyleafmusic

Breaking Benjamin:
www.breakingbenjamin.com
www.shallowbay.com
www.myspace.com/breakingbenjamin
Twitter: @breakingbenj

Three Days Grace:
www.threedaysgrace.com
www.myspace.com/threedaysgrace
Twitter: @threedaysgrace

BAND INTERVIEW: RED

2009-11-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

One word: complete. One feeling: inspired. One sound: genius. One notion: movement. One idea: depth. One band: RED. It only takes this one band to create something so pure and imaginable, it leaves you feeling whole. The depth, in which this band has always had, not only within themselves, their music, their fans or a combination of both, is something so genuine it leaves a lasting impression on everyone it touches. It’s a rarity to find this impression, especially in the chaos the world surrounds us with. RED creates a reprieve from that chaos. They give you a canvas and lend their colors to it. It creates a painting in which every song tells a story and every story creates the band. Their fans can’t get enough of their music and their love for this band is as bright and colorful as those paintings. RED creates a world of their own and it’s an amazing one to see.

STILLCODA: NEW TOUR, CLASS OF 2009, WITH SAVING ABEL, POP EVIL, TADDY PORTER: HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR?

ANTHONY: It’s going good so far, we’re doing what we love to do. We always have a good time so it’s going great!

STILLCODA: SO THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE UP ON STAGE WITH JASEN NOT PERFORMING?

ANTHONY: Nothings happened; he just wanted to be with family so he’s at home. He’s working on his career in producing and that side of things. We’re still writing together, working on songs and all kinds of things, he just doesn’t tour with us. He’ll still be apart of the band, just not as much as he was.

STILLCODA: WHAT IS SOME ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF 3 YEARS AGO?

ANTHONY: I didn’t realize it’d be as crazy as it is. I think we all set out with goals in mind. We hoped and prayed that the bands success would come but I think we’ve been kind of overwhelmed with the success we’ve gotten. So I think the advice would have just been to did what we did, work hard.

STILLCODA: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT KEEP YOU GROUNDED WHILE ON TOUR? YOU GUYS ARE CONSTANTLY ON THE ROAD SO THAT BECOMES MORE OF YOUR LIFE THAN BEING HOME.

ANTHONY: Yeah, it’s just the type of people we are. There’s no one thing physically like that, it’s more of a mental for all of us. We all just know what our goals are, that’s what we set out to do, it’s something we rely on to keep us grounded.

STILLCODA: SPEAKING OF KEEPING YOU GROUNDED, THE BAND HAS SOME EXTREMELY DEVOTED FANS, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THEY’VE DONE FOR YOU?

ANTHONY: Fans have done, you name it. They bring us food, invite us over to their houses, those people are on the list of “not crazy” (BOTH LAUGH). We’ll go over to their place and have a BBQ. After shows, we’ll go hang out with them, basically go do whatever. Go see some cool spots of the town that we’re in that night. Luckily, our fans have a way of making us feel at home when we’re not at home. In every city, there’s a least one person we know that usually comes to every show. It brings a familiar face to us that we always remember.

STILLCODA: NOW ON THIS TOUR, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN OFFERING AN ACOUSTIC SET TO FANS WHO PURCHASE A PACKAGE, HOW HAS THAT BEEN GOING FOR YOU?

ANTHONY: It’s really cool, it’s something we asked our management about doing because it gives us a chance to connect with fans, get a little more intimate with fans because the live set up isn’t as easy to do something like that. We usually go to the merch table and meet everyone but to be able to play an actual acoustic song. It’s just another way to show them how we want to give back and kind of how we live for 20-30 minutes of their night. Show them what we’re all about, a little bit of a closer look at the music. It’s what we’re excited about.

STILLCODA: WITH DOING THE ACOUSTIC SET AND THE LIVE SET, HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHAT SONGS YOU’LL BE PLAYING EVERY NIGHT?

ANTHONY: It’s based off of the flow of the show and how it will be vocally for us. It can be straining on Michael and Randy singing, so it’s like which songs flow best, which songs are harder to sing, etc. So we just set the songs up that work best but we also want to put on the best live show we possibly can; that are energetic and that people can really get into. It’s just a whole flow thing really and become an experience for everyone watching. If there’s break ups in there or if there’s something’s in there that don’t seem to mesh well, you’re not doing your job.

STILLCODA: OUT OF ALL THE LIVE PERFORMANCES I’VE SEEN, YOU ARE HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE BEST LIVE. EVERYTHING FLOWS JUST AS IT NEEDS TO AND THE ENERGY THAT YOU BRING MAKES THE FANS SPEECHLESS.

ANTHONY: Thank you! It’s definitely something that we strive for.

STILLCODA: WHILE THE BAND IS ON THE ROAD, YOU GUYS ARE CONSTANTLY DOING VIDEO UPDATES, BLOGS, TWITTER, ETC. WHAT IS SOMETHING FUNNY THAT HAS HAPPENED ON THIS TOUR?

ANTOHNY: Oh man…the first night of the tour, there was basically what seemed like a hurricane in Corpus Christi. There was about 10 inches of running water everywhere. The bus felt like it was drowning in a lake. We got on stage and 2 songs into set, the entire town of Corpus Christi lost power. So that was it for us, we performed in the rain. They had what’s called a “brown out,” so we kind of finished those 2 songs and got off stage. So the first night of the tour was quite interesting (BOTH LAUGH).

STILLCODA: I’M SURE IT WAS! MY FIRST THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN, “ARE WE GOING TO GET ELECTROCUTED?”

ANTHONY: (LAUGHS). Yea it was raining when we went on stage. It was a covered, outdoor stage so when the electricity went out, we were like “What in the world!”

STILLCODA: SPEAKING OF REACTIONS, THE BAND HAS HAD THEIR SECOND ALBUM “INNOCENCE AND INSTINCT” OUT SINCE FEBRUARY. DO YOU GUYS NOTICE IF FANS PERFER THAT ALBUM OVER “END OF SILENCE”?

ANTHONY: We’re seeing both sides of that of which record they like. I think the first people like and relate more to your first project. If they like your first project and it becomes a success, then people will say “Ah! Do you remember “End of Silence,” do you remember that record?...” It’s our newest project so I don’t think we’re going to stray away from either record. We feel like we’ve gotten to where we want to be. People are excited about the songs, the record is going great. But there’s just something magical for people about that first record. The first record is what drew them to us. So when people are introduced to us through “Innocence and Instinct,” then they find the first record, it’s that “ahh” all over again. They have infinity with that record.

STILLCODA: WHEN YOU ARE PERFORMING LIVE, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU FEED OFF OF WHILE WATCHING THE CROWD?

ANTHONY: Yeah, we feed off the crowd, the energy is something that we as a band and the people who came to see us share together. If you show up and the crowd’s really boring then you want to know that they’re into the music as much as you are. That’s a major part of it. Our music is so extreme as far as it getting really heavy and aggressive to the opposite. It’s kind of like a roller coaster in a way. From start to finish, we try to put on a really flowing type of show. There are so many people out there watching us, that’s a broad range of people so we try to give them everything we can.

STILLCODA: TO GET READY TO PERFORM WITH SUCH ENERGY, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO BEFORE A SHOW?

ANTHONY: We listen to music, something heavy like Sevendust or Slipknot, something that gets us going. It’s that heavy, aggressive sound that gets you pumped up. It’s like something that you’d listen to while you’re at the gym, that sort of thing. Us guys are into that sort of thing (BOTH LAUGH).

STILLCODA: YOUR MUSIC INSPIRES SO MANY PEOPLE AND IT BECOMES A BIG PART OF THEM. HAVE YOU SEEN FANS WITH TATTOOS AND SUCH THAT THEY’VE GOTTEN IN HONOR OF THAT?

ANTHONY: We have! There’s a guy that has the entire front cover of “End of Silence” tatted on his leg. A friend of ours has: her Twitter page is Evil Angel, which is a Breaking Benjamin song (BOTH LAUGH); on the back of her neck one of our old merch designs of a skull with wings and the logo tatted there. It’s cool because I designed the logo for the band, we all take a lot of pride in that because it’s our brand. The word means so much more to us that just the brand. The word RED and what it embodies for us is and that logo is synonymous to us. So it’s cool to see people branding it on them.

STILLCODA: BOTH YOU AND YOUR BROTHER RANDY HAVE SOME INTERESTING TATTOOS THAT GO WITH THE BRANDING THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW IT MEANS MORE TO YOU THAN JUST THE WORD.

ANTHONY: Yeah, my right arm is covered with images from “The Book of Revelations” from the Bible; it’s about the Armageddon and the end of the world. I’ve always been so fascinated by that book in the Bible, it being about the end of days and survival. It’s that constant conversation in the world about the end of days. It’s just so interesting to me and if you read through that book, it’s a very graphic detailed dream sequence of events. It goes through what this man sees and what he goes through that’s tattooed on my arm

STILLCODA: RANDY HAS “REDEMPTION” AND “INSPIRED” WRITTEN ON BOTH OF HIS FOREARMS WITH THE WORD “RED” IN THE COLOR RED.

ANTHONY: Yeah, that was actually my idea (BOTH LAUGH). I told Randy about that and he said “That’s pretty cool.” So he went and got that. Both embody what the band is about and how we feel about being as inspirational as we can.

STILLCODA: EVERYTHING FROM THE LOGO, THE NAME, THE MERCH, THE MUSIC, THE SHOW, THE BAND, EVERYTHING IS TIED SO WELL TOGETHER; IT’S ASTOUNDING HOW TIGHT EVERYTHING IS. THAT PROCESS OF GETTING TO THAT POINT: WAS IT SOMETHING THAT THE BAND INITIALLY THOUGHT OF OR DID EVERYTHING JUST COME TOGETHER ON THE WAY?

ANTHONY: I don’t know, it’s a great question. I think with us being on the road and touring, has made us a great performing band. I don’t think anyone can just step on stage and be amazing. I still think there’s an x-factor there, there’s just something that some bands have that other bands don’t. Or that some performers have that others don’t. It’s something that divides a band from another one so to speak. We’ve paid so much attention to our live show to how we pull off the whole spectrum of what RED is. It’s more of a lifestyle for us, you know what I mean? We’re kind of living our lives out on stage in front of 1000’s of people. It’s what we want people to see and for you to say or state that the way you did, I feel like we’re accomplishing that. That’s what most important to us.

STILLCODA: EVERY SINGLE TIME I’VE SEEN YOU, THE SHOW STILL BLOWS ME AWAY. EVERYTHING IS AT IT SHOULD BE. TO LOOK AT HOW THE BAND RUNS AND HOW YOU ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHNG, IS EXACTLY HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE. EVERYTHING FLOWS TOGETHER SMOOTHLY, THE LIVE SHOW LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS AND THE BAND BEING HUMBLE ABOUT EVERYTHING MAKES YOU ONE OF THOSE BANDS THAT STANDS OUT.

ANTHONY: That makes me feel awesome to hear you say something like that! We basically play everyday of the week. Sometimes we step off stage, we feel like “we didn’t have a good show tonight.” But we go to the merch table after and someone will just be freaking out! Crying or something like that and saying “That’s the most amazing show I’ve ever seen!” Our reactions are “Like, what? Ahhh…” (BOTH LAUGH). It’s hard to take compliments sometimes because we are such perfectionists on what we do and we’re so passionate about every single facet. So is something happens, we feel like that flow is broken and it feels like we had a bad night. We’ll get frustrated sometimes because we feel like our fans deserve more than that. Having that attitude going into a show, no matter how big the venue is, every single show is an opportunity to hold onto our music.

STILLCODA: AND THAT’S WHY THE BAND HAS SUCH DEVOTED FANS. YOU AND JASEN ARE KNOWN FOR ‘TWIRLING AND SPINNING THE GUITAR’ AROUND WHILE PLAYING. HOW DO YOU DO IT AND MAKING IT LOOK EFFORTLESS? (BOTH LAUGH)

ANTHONY: I think it’s just something that becomes effortless after lots of practice (BOTH LAUGH). When you feel something, you get into it and that’s just something I do when I’m into the music. It started way back in the day where guitarists would throw the guitar front to back or back to front. The twirling just came along with it I think (laughs).

STILLCODA: HAVE YOU EVER HIT ANYONE ON STAGE?

ANTHONY: Oh yeah. I put Michael in the hospital once. I swung the guitar around and it landed on top of his head. He had to have 7 staples put in his head. Actually a few nights ago, one of the first nights on the tour, my strap broke when I did it. The guitar went flying across the stage and it snapped in half. Luckily, when I do tricks like that, I always have a back up. My guitar tech was right there and handed me my other guitar.

STILLCODA: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE FANS THAT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO?

ANTHONY: If I could say something to the fans, I think it’d be to give us a chance. We ride a very thin line as a band because we’re from a Christian record label; a lot of places consider us a Christian band/act. Those lines are so polarized now, there’s just no real way of defining our music as Christian or not. Because it gets a Christian “label,” people are either automatically turned off or on by it. They might think we have an agenda or that we have a message we want to jamb down their throat that “label.” And it’s not like that for us. We’re just music makers, all we care about is relating to people and showing people that regardless of what our Faith is, we’re just like everybody else. Music is an amazing platform because not only can we get into their heads with just a great song, the seed is planted. They can go exploring and dissecting music on their own and reading biographies and really understanding what and who the band is. I think if people took a closer look, they’d realize that there’s more to us than our Faith. There’s more to the band that we’re trying to accomplish. Once they hear that we’re a Christian band, they feel like they can’t listen to us or can’t come talk to us at the merch table cause they have a beer in their hands. We’re just here to be, really. We have our beliefs and our belief system but at the end of the day, we like to write great songs, put on a great show and have a good time.

STILLCODA: IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE MUSIC BEING MADE, THE SHOW THAT YOU PUT ON, HOW YOU TREAT OTHERS AND NOT BASED ON PERSONAL BELIEFS. AS LONG AS YOU’RE DONG WHAT YOU LOVE, THAT’S WHAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT. MUSIC IS ITS OWN ENTITY, TAKE IT FOR WHAT IT IS AND GO ON.

ANTHONY: Exactly! There’s such a stigmata about those sorts of things that people forget what to live for in a way. Music is a way for people to define themselves but it doesn’t need to be about the religious or political points of views other may have. We’re not writing a book so to speak, we’re not trying to turn people off from us. We’re here to create great music. We just want to know that it’s what you make of it. We’re human beings, not soap box type of guys you know? (BOTH LAUGH).

STILLCODA: THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS COMING UP FOR RED IN THE NEXT YEAR. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OR GET EXCITED ABOUT FROM THE BAND?

ANTHONY: There are a couple of fun things actually. Being a music maker, you’re rewarded in that community for being able to do that. Jasen and I are the primary writers of RED and we’ve been known for being great writers, performers or whatever. We’d love to get back to the Grammy’s this year. We’ve already been nominated for a Grammy award and should find out in the next month if we’ve been nominated again. So that’d be kind of cool to experience again. Next year we’ve got some really cool touring possibilities coming up that we’re really excited about. In January, we’ve got a headlining tour that we’ll be doing. We’re supposed to be going out really shortly with Breaking Benjamin and Flyleaf, which will be an amazing tour. Three Days Grace has asked us to go out again, so we’re looking forward to that tour as well. It’s going to be a big year for us next year. We’re also looking to release “Ordinary World” to the top 40 radio. If that does well, we’ll get to do some late night shows and such. So fun little goals, that aren’t meant to be made into anything more than what they are, but things we’re excited about experiencing. We’d wish that on anybody so we’re thankful we’ve been able to experience what we have so far.

STILLCODA: AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THOUGHT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND? SOMETHING THAT YOU’D TELL THE YOUNGER GENERATION IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE PATH RED HAS.

ANTHONY: At the end of the day, we’re just thankful that we get to do what we love. It’s not a job to us; it’s our way of living. That’s what’s awesome to us. If you’re in this business to be famous and make money, you’re in it for the wrong reasons. It’s a lot more work than any of us expected, from marketing to everything. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s worth it to us. We go on stage and try to be as humble as we can and really be apart of the music and fans. We’ve been really fortunate enough to have done and accomplished the things we have and not a lot of bands get to do that. So we’re really thankful and humbled by our experiences. It could all be gone tomorrow, but we keep that reality in mind.

STILLCODA: WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT COMES OF THE FUTURE FOR THIS BAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TODAY TO SPEAK WITH ME AND WE’LL SEE YOU ON THE ROAD SOON!

ANTHONY: Thank you for talking with me! We really appreciate people like you and we can’t wait to see everyone out on the road!

CHECK OUT MORE RED IMAGES AT

WWW.STILLCODAPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT RED ONLINE:

MYSPACE:

www.myspace.com/dropofred

WEBSITE:

http://www.redmusiconline.com/

FACEBOOK:

Redmusiconline

TWITTER:

@redtouring

Band Interview: Apache Stone w/Michael Lombardi (of TV hit series "Rescue Me")

2009-07-29T13:32:00.001-07:00

There are some individuals who are graced with more than one ability, giving them that extra edge. Growing up as a drummer/musician, Michael Lombardi new where he was going. Until one day, his ambitions lead him to acting on a hit TV Series called “Rescue Me.” Now, getting back to his roots, Lombardi is all about multitasking and proving that his abilities are beyond measure in his new band called Apache Stone. One thing is for sure, the future of Apache Stone is bright and full of great success.
STILLCODA: How was the transition from being a drummer/musician to an actor and coming back full circle?

MICHAEL: I started playing drums when I was young; my uncle was a great drummer and bought me my first drum set. Later on, I went to a drummer’s school in New York City and was exposed to acting, Broadway, everything. It just opened a lot of doors that I hadn’t previously been exposed to. So I started the acting, started taking the acting classes, where you’re trained to use everything you had. When you’re playing drums, you get into the tunes and movements and become “one” with it. It’s the same thing with acting, you get into character and both of those things kind of come together in that moment. I had worked on my voice, written a lot of lyrics, poetry over the years and turned them into songs that told a story that you want to know.

STILLCODA: What were people’s reactions like when you started talking about forming a band, especially seeing that most were used to working with you on a acting stand point?

MICHAEL: Being in a band has always been my thing, playing in several throughout the years; it’s always been my number one thing. I’ve been so, so, so fortunate to be a working actor and having a passion for music, has been amazing. I think people on “Rescue Me” kind of knew that I had passion for music, knowing that I played drums, but didn’t realize to what level I was taking it. I think their response was “Oh boy, what’s this going to be…” (laughs). Dennis Leary, the shows writers, and a few other people found out that I was in a band. And like a lot of the story lines in “Rescue Me,” they pull things out of real life while making it very comedic and dramatic, adds more to the story. Dennis Leary actually came to see us play a few times and ended up writing in an interesting story line for me with the band. I think they realized it was more serious for me and it went better than they thought. With the story line, there are very comedic elements, but we were able to put on there a bunch of our original songs.

STILLCODA: What are some of the hardest things you have to work with or work around while being a musician and an actor?

MICHAEL: It’s been very difficult, but worth it. I usually know when I’m shooting in New York City for “Rescue Me” for 22 Episodes, knowing when my character’s needed, my storyline, all of it. So on the off time of doing that, I’d be in studio, writing with the band, practicing, rehearsing, all of it. While working as an actor, I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to afford studio time whenever we can get in there. Committing to a band is a tremendous amount of work, not only are you working with different personalities but dealing with everything else that comes from a band. Booking shows, promoting, booking hotels, getting venues, recording, getting producers, everything is involved.

STILLCODA: On a normal day for you, what’s filled in?

MICHAEL: A lot of the time, I know that I’ll be filming all day and that I’ll be done at a certain time. Sometimes we do 12-14 hour days but other days we’ll do 16-18 hour days. So I always know when I’ll be off. So if I go in at 6am, I’ll be done by 6pm and have rehearsal at 7pm. Other days we’ll have rehearsal per episode.

STILLCODA: What have been some of the expectations you’ve gotten from people that have been with you through this whole process with the music?

MICHAEL: Being an actor and being in a band, there’s always this kind of stigma around it and I totally understand that, but I’m doing what I love to do. I know that there are so many other actors doing the same thing, but there are also a lot of musicians who act as well. So you just have to do your thing and enjoy every step of the way, no matter what you end up or where it takes you. I’m definitely learning a lot but I have to say, I think the music stands on its own and I’m very proud of it.

STILLCODA: Having the music stand on its own is what makes it for any band, it’s makes them memorable. How did you find the other members of the band to join you in this?

MICHAEL: I started playing with Hank Woods, which is the guitar player, and I met him through a mutual friend. He and I started playing together and we had a drummer and a bass player at the time. So we’d rehearse and have fun, did some cover songs then I really started getting serious about it. Hank and I had a pretty good vision of where we wanted to go with it but the drummer and bass player we had at the time, didn’t. So we moved on and Hank had a friend Mark that he went to Berkley with. He said “Hey, I have this drummer and he’s great!” So we auditioned Mark and we brought him in. Then Mark had a friend who was a bass player, David. So we met with David and he was awesome, he knew all the songs coming in so he added so much more. Then Nick, the other guitar player came in and we widen the sound and have a complete group now. We’d rehearsal like 4 days a week, put gigs under our belt and everything. Now we have a real band, people that stand behind each other.

STILLCODA: What are some of the future plans for Apache Stone?
MICHAEL: Right now, we’re just focused on getting to the next level. We have a great manager, Becky that just jumped on board with us. She’s helped booking us with some great charity events for the Firefighters along with some shows along the way. It’s perfect to be able to play for Firefighters as their jobs are so dangerous and they’re such amazing people. So we’re just taking it to the next level by playing a lot more throughout the summer. We have a bunch of options for record labels; we have songs on ITunes, Myspace, all of the social networks. So right now, we’re getting a lot of great responses from everyone, from the internet, everything. Hopefully we’ll grow enough that we can tour and get another album written within the next year or two. So we’ll see what happens and I’m going to enjoy the ride for as long as I can. Have fun playing!
STILLCODA: When you’re writing a song, what are things that you pull from around to help create that song?

MICHAEL: I really write for the thought of the song. Whether I want it to have a killer bass or a hard rock tone, I like to think of the song and how it’ll make me feel. A lot of my stuff isn’t majorly up tempo, its more music that can really move you and expresses a lot. I’ll take that feeling, take some poetry that I’ve written and write about what I know from my own life’s journey. I’m really, really driven by lyrics and telling the story. I want to make it colorful but explaining it in a way that a symbol for a word can be used instead of an actual word.

STILLCODA: What is one song that either you or others are really drawn to most out of all the ones you’ve performed or that are out there?

MICHAEL: So far, we have about 3-4 songs on our Myspace page that people listen to. “Synthetic Self” is the one that’s on the airwaves right now, so that one seems to be drawing people in more. But other people tell me “Highlighted Life” is their favorite. I love them both but there’s a song called “Let it Live” that’s a really killer tune. There’s another song called “Ways to Nowhere” that has a really nice open chorus to open it up. It’s hard to say which one I’m more drawn to as they’re all ones I’m drawn to. “Without Tomorrow” has that epic classic rock feeling to it that’s one of my favorites.
STILLCODA: We definitely can’t wait to hear everything you guys are working on and see what the future holds for the band! Apache Stone has a clear path ahead of it and I for one can’t wait to see it!

MICHAEL: Thank you so much! We can’t wait to be able to get out there and play for you and for everyone!

Make sure to stop by and listen to Apache Stones new music and keep an eye out for their shows and future appearances on the hit TV Series “Rescue Me.” Links to Apache Stone: MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/apachestonemusic FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/pages/Apache-Stone