Band Interview: Halestorm while on the UPROAR Tour 2010

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

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

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

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!