Ventura, CA - 8/30/2009
Photos by: Ama Reeves
BETRAYED
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Rise and Fall US Tour!
10/05: Baltimore, MD @ Sidebar w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/06: Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/07: Raleigh, NC @ Brewery w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/08: West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/09: Atlanta, GA @ PS Warehouse w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/10: Birmingham, AL @ Green Cup w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/11: Little Rock, AR @ Vinos w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/12: 1919 Hemphill @ Fort Worth, TX w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/13: Austin, TX @ Emo's w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/14: San Antonio, TX @ Ten Eleven w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/15: Tucson, AZ @ Living Room w/ Creatures
10/16: San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/17: Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/18: Salinas, CA @ Building E w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/19: Las Vegas, NV @ Eastside Joes w/ Creatures
10/20: Albuqeurque, NM @ Taylair w/ Creatures
10/21: Denver, CO @ Blast O Mat w/ Creatures
10/22: Kansas City, MO @ Mission Theatre w/ Creatures
10/23: St Louis, MO @ Fubar w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/24: Chicago, IL @ tbd w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/25: Indianapolis, IN @ Murphy Building w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/26: Cincinnati, OH @ Warsaw Arena w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/27: Romeo, MI @ Static Age w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/28: Cleveland, OH @ Tower 2012 w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/29: Lemoyne, PA @ Championship w/ Cold World, Creatures
10/30: Edison, NJ @ Clara Burton Hall w/ Cold World, Creatures
10/31: Albany, NY @ Valentines w/ Cold World, Creatures, Title Fight, Cruel Hand, Mother Of Mercy
11/01: Holyoke, MA @ Waterfront Tavern w/ Cold World, Death Before Dishonor, Creatures
10/06: Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/07: Raleigh, NC @ Brewery w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/08: West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/09: Atlanta, GA @ PS Warehouse w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/10: Birmingham, AL @ Green Cup w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/11: Little Rock, AR @ Vinos w/ Bracewar, Creatures
10/12: 1919 Hemphill @ Fort Worth, TX w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/13: Austin, TX @ Emo's w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/14: San Antonio, TX @ Ten Eleven w/ Bitter End, Mammoth Grinder, Creatures
10/15: Tucson, AZ @ Living Room w/ Creatures
10/16: San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/17: Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/18: Salinas, CA @ Building E w/ Ceremony, Lewd Acts, Black Breath
10/19: Las Vegas, NV @ Eastside Joes w/ Creatures
10/20: Albuqeurque, NM @ Taylair w/ Creatures
10/21: Denver, CO @ Blast O Mat w/ Creatures
10/22: Kansas City, MO @ Mission Theatre w/ Creatures
10/23: St Louis, MO @ Fubar w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/24: Chicago, IL @ tbd w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/25: Indianapolis, IN @ Murphy Building w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/26: Cincinnati, OH @ Warsaw Arena w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/27: Romeo, MI @ Static Age w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/28: Cleveland, OH @ Tower 2012 w/ Harms Way, Creatures
10/29: Lemoyne, PA @ Championship w/ Cold World, Creatures
10/30: Edison, NJ @ Clara Burton Hall w/ Cold World, Creatures
10/31: Albany, NY @ Valentines w/ Cold World, Creatures, Title Fight, Cruel Hand, Mother Of Mercy
11/01: Holyoke, MA @ Waterfront Tavern w/ Cold World, Death Before Dishonor, Creatures
Monday, August 24, 2009
Alana Potocnik of Abigail Williams
Interview- Ama Reeves
Ama: What is your name and what do you do?
Photos Submitted by Alana from Various Artists
In a genre that runs rapid with testosterone, beer, blood, and groupies there stands very little space or desire for female musicians. With Abigail Williams, this is not the case. This epic black metal band is now on it's third female (and completely gorgeous) keyboardist, Alana Potocnick. Just as predecessors (who've moved on to the likes of Cradle of Filth and Winds of Plague), Alana isn't there just for her looks. Her talent and song writing capabilities put her in a league or her own and that's why Invasion loves her!
Alana:My name is Alana Potocnik and i play keyboards in Abigail Williams
Ama: Were you ever in any bands before Abigail Williams?
Alana: Yes, iv been playing in bands since i was 14, but my most recent national act i played in was called The Breathing Process
Ama: Abigail Williams has had alot of line up changes, is this the permanent line up?
Alana: Not to sure yet, were still undergoing some tryouts. We want to make sure the line up is solid before announcing anything set in stone.
Ama: Your predecessors Ashley and Kristen have gone on to do some great things, are you stoked for them?
Alana: Of course, its always awesome to hear other girls in metal, succeeding. Best of luck to them, they are going far!
Ama: Was it hard to fill their shoes?
Alana: I was worried as to of what people may think about me or fans comparing me to ashely alot, but i think alot of people respect me as a pianist because trust me, ashleys work is not easy. She is an amazing musician and im glad i had the opportunity to undergo the challenge of filling her shoes.
Ama: Your band sits on a lot of fences genre-wise what would you say you are?
Alana: I would like to label us as symphonic black metal. The music is very keyboard driven but dark guitars and fast drums.
Ama: Are you a classically trained musician?
Alana: Yes. i started with music when i was young, although i began playing guitar when i was 8, but i was convinced to take piano lessons also. I was first trained in jazz piano and then switched to classical.
Ama: What's the hardest part about being a girl in an all male touring band?
Alana: Haha, im pretty used to being on tour with a bunch of smelly guys, but the hardest part id say is being able to maintain my hygiene the way i like to. Also having to deal with the guys farting and talking about their sex stories although most of them make me laugh.
Ama: Your band is touring relentlessly for the next six months, is this hard on you?
Alana: I get homesick alot, but i love being on the road, its what i live for. I tend to get really sick on tour also so i know there will be a bunch of times where i wont be enjoying tour as much as usual. haha
Ama: What are some tour essentials, being a girl?
Alana: Hmm, some tour essentials. My green and black fuzzy blanket definatly, macbook and wireless card, make up bag, hair straightener etc. Showers, laundry rooms, BED, and a gym are some essentials are hard to find on tour that the guys dont need as much as i do.
Ama: Do you have any advice for girls trying to start bands?
Alana: Dont be discouraged because you are a girl, be strong and show them guys what we can do!
Ama: What's next for you and your band?
Alana:We have a tour in october with God Dethroned and a tour in January with Nile with more in the works. We are at home working on the next album currently.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Drag Me to Hell Review
By Ama Reeves
Of course the anticipation of a new Sam Raimi horror film just about drove me insane so when I saw that the Century 8 (the most ghetto theatre in the valley) was doing a midnight sneak preview on Thursday I was the first one in line. I had certain expectations for this film and I already had in mind that they would probably not be met. To my surprise it was everything that I hoped and dreamed it could be. Simple plot and wonderful visuals paying homage to classic horror and specifically, the Argento camp. Spot on lighting and no over dramatic CGI.
Quick Premise: A loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse, which turns her life into a living hell. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point
For Sam Raimi fans "the Classic", his Delta Oldsmobile is seen in the first fifteen minutes as the gypsy's car. A great treat! On top of that Ted Raimi and the rest of the Raimi family have cameos. Along with that plenty of scenes have the oh so Raimi style very reminiscent of Evil Dead 1 and 2. Keeping the campy mid-70's film alive is something that Raimi has strived to do throughout his entire career and seeing his renewed love and inspiration for the horror genre in full effect is absolutely incredible and resulted in 2 hours of thrilling nail biting entertainment.
In Defense of Depression- An Essay
By- Eros Marcello
I'd much rather be in a state of utter turmoil. You see, turmoil leads to
such vices as self-destruction, which is a supremely better method of creation
and expression. There's so much more to it. After all, the only things that
come from contentment are idleness, age and ego. Feeling happy is only
an omen for the bad things to come. The way I see it, if you're miserable every
second of every day, you always win. Nothing can bring you down lower. You
expect the worst all the time. No surprises, nothing. If your mother dies, if
your girlfriend fucks your best friend, if your car explodes, if your
dad gambles away your college funds, if the asshole at work gets the big
promotion instead of you, if you lose a breast to cancer...these are all things
that take part in the grand shit storm of your life.
Take a look around, and I mean take a good look around. Is there anything
worth being happy about? Is there any justification for being optimistic?
There isn't ever a bright side. There is no "other hand." The people
that tote and gloat about how positive and upbeat they are almost always the
people that are up to their wastes in debt, were abused as children or get off
to defecating on themselves.
The truth is that we are all damaged. Some just mask it with temporary pleasure
and most just deny it all together, but don't just take my word for it, it's an
industry. Thousands of people every year purchase anti-depressants and walk
into counseling offices, and my question is...
Why?
Am I missing something here? Am I the only one who recognizes the malevolent
beauty in introverted agony? My crippling doubt, my dirt low self-esteem, my
heartaches, my heartbreaks....I couldn't live without them. I dwell, sulk and
mope and do it all without shame.
Still skeptical? How about this, get your hands on the most depressed,
negative, lonely, good-for-nothing person you can find and put a gun right
between their eyes. Watch them tear up like a thirteen year old girl during her
first period. Listen to them beg for their lives and grovel at your feet. Press
the cold metal right up against their skin and just watch their hysteria ensue.
Now, if a legitimately depressed person loathed their existence so, why would
they fear a swift end to their troubles? Well, the same reason why teens cut
themselves and purposely botch their suicide attempts, the same reason people
waste themselves away with hard drugs and alcohol. These are individuals who
are unable to ascertain their intrigue, their lust for depression. The masses
claim they're merely "cries for help." Such cop-outs are laughable,
and only exist to serve as fitting scapegoats for a generation of parents who
are far more destructive and oblivious than the kids they're raising.
Ask yourself, which is stronger: Great joy or great sadness? Why is there
such heavy persuasion to disregard our negativity and our pessimism? By doing
so, you're overlooking an element of our primal nature as human beings. Put
down the Dr. Phil book, turn off Oprah. Life is not easy. Life is not simple.
Life is not pleasant. Life is not fair. Stop wasting your potential by
pretending otherwise and spawn something with your desperation instead of
hiding it in the lump in your throat.
It's the people that cling to their happiness who carry the most misery but
it's the people who embrace their despair who bear the most humanity. It's the
few who wave their emotional masochism like a flag that are truly to credit for
all beneficial, heartfelt, intelligent creation while the rest of the world
gallivants in their hollow, pointless glory. Which would you rather be, the
promotion instead of you, if you lose a breast to cancer...these are all things
that take part in the grand shit storm of your life.
Take a look around, and I mean take a good look around. Is there anything
worth being happy about? Is there any justification for being optimistic?
There isn't ever a bright side. There is no "other hand." The people
that tote and gloat about how positive and upbeat they are almost always the
people that are up to their wastes in debt, were abused as children or get off
to defecating on themselves.
The truth is that we are all damaged. Some just mask it with temporary pleasure
and most just deny it all together, but don't just take my word for it, it's an
industry. Thousands of people every year purchase anti-depressants and walk
into counseling offices, and my question is...
Why?
Am I missing something here? Am I the only one who recognizes the malevolent
beauty in introverted agony? My crippling doubt, my dirt low self-esteem, my
heartaches, my heartbreaks....I couldn't live without them. I dwell, sulk and
mope and do it all without shame.
Still skeptical? How about this, get your hands on the most depressed,
negative, lonely, good-for-nothing person you can find and put a gun right
between their eyes. Watch them tear up like a thirteen year old girl during her
first period. Listen to them beg for their lives and grovel at your feet. Press
the cold metal right up against their skin and just watch their hysteria ensue.
Now, if a legitimately depressed person loathed their existence so, why would
they fear a swift end to their troubles? Well, the same reason why teens cut
themselves and purposely botch their suicide attempts, the same reason people
waste themselves away with hard drugs and alcohol. These are individuals who
are unable to ascertain their intrigue, their lust for depression. The masses
claim they're merely "cries for help." Such cop-outs are laughable,
and only exist to serve as fitting scapegoats for a generation of parents who
are far more destructive and oblivious than the kids they're raising.
Ask yourself, which is stronger: Great joy or great sadness? Why is there
such heavy persuasion to disregard our negativity and our pessimism? By doing
so, you're overlooking an element of our primal nature as human beings. Put
down the Dr. Phil book, turn off Oprah. Life is not easy. Life is not simple.
Life is not pleasant. Life is not fair. Stop wasting your potential by
pretending otherwise and spawn something with your desperation instead of
hiding it in the lump in your throat.
It's the people that cling to their happiness who carry the most misery but
it's the people who embrace their despair who bear the most humanity. It's the
few who wave their emotional masochism like a flag that are truly to credit for
all beneficial, heartfelt, intelligent creation while the rest of the world
gallivants in their hollow, pointless glory. Which would you rather be, the
forest or the tree?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Artist Profile: Jay Jacoby
Interview- Ama Reeves
If you're a fan of modern youth crew one name is synonymous with this scene and it's album art- Jay Jacoby. He is our generation and genre's Raymond Pettibon. Not only is an amazing artist but did we mention he works for free? Keep an eye out for this talented artist with tons of great projects in the works with great up and coming bands!
Ama: What are you some of your favorite current bands?
Jay: Man, where to start? There are a lot of great bands going right now, it’s easy to be stoked on hardcore. Let’s see, Mindset and Right Idea, On, pretty much anything on React!, Alert, Force Fed, Remission, Outlast, Reveal the Truth, the list goes on and on.
Ama: Tell us some things you're posi about it?
Jay: Man, there are so many things, I guess I’ll break it down like, this: I love my wife and kids, my family and friends, my job is amazing. I can’t ask for more than that, really. Then on top of that, I’m doing art for a scene I love, full of individuals that, for the most part, are conscious and caring and are (hopefully) trying to affect a change, both within themselves and hopefully, the world around them. Let’s see what else? Talking to younger local kids that are stoked on the core, hearing a good band for the first time, getting e-mails from all over the world asking me to do art for their band, free shit in the mail, etc.
Ama:How long have you been doing art in the hardcore scene, what got you started?
Jay: After a couple of misfires, I really got my start about a year and a half ago. I had mentioned to Jeff Hess from Right Idea that if the band ever needed art, I’d be more than happy to do something for them. When Hess was working on his zine, he contacted me about doing a profile on me and several other artists and asked me if I would like to contribute something. I gave him an old drawing and a new drawing which he used and it’s just kind of snowballed from there. It’s come full circle too I just did the test press cover for the 7” version of the Right Idea Our World EP.
Ama: You seem to work primarily with youth crew bands, any specific reason why?
Jay: HAHA I never set out to do it that way, that’s just kind of the way it happened. And to be honest, it’s not really been a goal or anything, but the youth crew scene is small and pretty close-knit right now, and word travels fast. You put out the word you’re doing art for free and it attracts attention. I also think that the aesthetics of the original youth crew stuff holds up, it’s really clean and crisp (if that makes sense) and so is my “style”, if that’s what you want to call it, is kind of similar. I would never turn a band down based on the fact that they aren’t “youth crew”.
Ama: Are there any artists you look up to?
Jay: I have to say, I look at art constantly, there are so many talented people out there doing/have done, so many different things. Here’s a short list of people whose work I really admire and have a lot of respect for: Linas Garsys, Wassily Kandinsky, Mike Bukowski, Mike Mignola, Hokusai, Frank Miller, Brian Walsby, Pablo Picasso, Yoshitoshi, Jackson Pollack, Jake Bannon, M.C. Escher, the list goes on.
Ama: What are some of your inspirations?
Jay: As far as artistic? I’d have to say that I’m inspired mainly by the music I listen too, you know? I also think that a lot of the hardcore punk artists that have come before, Raymond Pettibon, Mad Marc Rude, and a lot of the guys listed above, always make me want to push it that much further. The idea that I’m trying to create something that conveys so much, either a band’s shirt or demo or record cover, into one singular image is a challenge. I’d like to think I do a fairly decent job of that. And other inspiration? This thing of ours, hardcore really.
Ama: What mediums do you enjoy working in the most?
Jay: As far as what I’m doing in HC, it’s pretty straight forward- pencil, eraser, and pen/marker; it’s really basic and really immediate. I’ve got very little experience on the computer so I’m hoping to remedy that and learn my way around the different programs to further help me. I also dig a lot of printmaking, which is what I got my first degree in college. It encompasses a lot of stuff, such as linoleum cutting and wood cutting, monotype, silk-screening, and lithography. One of these days, I would love to do something that combines both. We’ll see…
Ama: In a time where artists are making bank off bands why do you choose to work for free?
Jay: I’ve gotten so much from HC. The city I’ve grown up in has never really lent itself to my particular tastes in hardcore, even still, I’ve been able to connect to a lot of great people and bands over the years. I always wanted to do something, to contribute, to give back, as corny as that sounds. I figured that the best way to do that was to do something for the bands I love, do some art. I think that at some point, I may say “Hey, if you want to give me a little money, I would take it”, make it kind of an optional thing. Either way, it isn’t a part of what I’m about or where my interests lie. There are several bands that I’m doing stuff for that are paying me now because they want too and won’t take no for an answer. HAHA
Ama: Any new artists we should be checking out?
Jay: Really, the main guy that I always tell people to check out is XSlabaX. He and I bounce ideas off of each other, one of these days we’re going to collaborate on something epic, we just don’t know what yet. He is extremely talented and gets me stoked on the core and art on a regular basis. Also, Michiel Walrave, another good hardcore artist, he’s got a real bold style that lends itself well to the color he uses.
Ama: Tell us some big projects you have coming up?
Jay: My plate is full right now and really, I try and treat everybody and every band the same so I try not to look at certain projects as “bigger” than others. I’m working on stuff for Chapters from CAN, Stand Clear from the UK, Channel X from Malaysia, HoldXTrue from Hungary, something cool coming up for Outlast and Reveal the Truth from NJ and FL respectively, and some other cool stuff that I’m really stoked on.
Ama: Any last words?
Jay: First of all, thanks to Invasion, really appreciate this. Also, big shout outs to all of the bands that have asked me to work for them or are waiting on something from me, the Alert Crew, Dave and Outlast, Youth Crew Alex Records, XSlabaX, HYE, Jeff Hess, Evan and Mindset, Jym 129, and Aram and React!. If you want to get ahold of me, check out my blog at http://positiveartlook.
Bayonet
Interview: Eros Marcello
I was home from The Banner's Europe tour since November of last year. We didn't do any shows or work on anything really, so I was aching to do something. I started toying around with some rough demos. I was playing the songs for Ben from the band Armor For Sleep at my place one day, and he let me know Buddy was looking to do a Hardcore Punk band. Buddy ended up just calling me the next day, and we started meeting up regularly.
I wish I could go a bit more in depth for you guys on this one. Music-wise, the theme is in your face aggression. Plain and simple. At any given moment, we want our songs to sound pissed, desperate, or uplifting. Lyrically, It seems to me like Buddy has been throwing in topics of family life, as well as poems with less obvious meaning. I haven't unlocked the meaning of it all 100% yet, so I'll wait to go into more detail after Buddy clears that up a little bit personally first. Generally, our songs mesh lyrically... But we do have a few one-offs.
As far as releases go, it looks like our prospective label will be putting it out on 7" vinyl, as well as iTunes and the usual digital media sites. We are also being sent to Salad Days in January, to record our full-length with Brian McTernan. (Snapcase, Thrice, Cave In, Circa Survive, Converge). He has developed a great relationship with Buddy over the years, and I am personally a big fan of his work. Now, tour plans are a little looser planned. We have gotten offered by a few really awesome bands to do tours with them, but as of right now all we have planned is a possible 5 dates with Defeater. Our future is limitless. This is a real band, not a one-off mash-up or side project. We have every intent to tour as much as your average full-time band.
So far, our response has been great! We didn't really expect so many people to jump on board during this pre-game phase. Everyone has been extremely supportive, and we have a nice handful of kids going around spreading the word the old fashioned way. We will put more into pushing the band and promoting it when the full-length is done... If need be. A lot of our messages and comments online are from Senses Fail fans, or fans of Buddy himself even. We get a lot of Banner kids as well, and a lot of people saying that they love both bands, so this is perfect for them. People are asking for more, and my main concern is that we can give them more as soon as possible.
Fairly simple. I write a song, teach it to Paul in a loose and still somewhat open ended manor. Then Buddy puts his two cents in musically. He is really good at coming up with ideas for smoother transitions. It's great to have a singer who doesn't really play guitar too much, and expresses ideas through parts, rather than trying to change songs. I think when any songwriter lyrically or musically writes something, it is dear to them. Unless they are writing fish hook dance-pop substance lacking crap. Even then, some of those kids are proud of that garbage. But what I'm getting at, is that Buddy builds off of my parts, rather than straight up changing them. I respect that, and i can still get my original message across unscathed. I don't write any lyric content. Not my thing anymore. But we do have a bassist since we wrote our EP. Will wrote and played the bass parts on it, but he wasn't around for the actual songwriting. He is a very talented songwriter, and I only see him helping us. But if for any reason his input were to change our sound more than improve it, then we would not go that path. I also recorded the EP with some help of my co-worker Bill at The Machine Shop, and then Will mixed it the night he layed down the bass. So if any bands local to North Jersey or NYC wanna come track some songs, find me.
Banner wasn't doing anything during this process, and Joey was working on a new band called Wolve as well at the time, so there was no conflict at all on my behalf. I wrote the skeletonwork for our material while Buddy was out on tour. He came home and we did revisions, dropped vocals, and the rest is history. None of our schedules have cause conflict. Paul has a day job, and I work at the studio with Will, so we are consumed as far as time goes... but that won't stop us from doing this. A lot of the responsibility falls directly on me as far as songwriting goes though. I mean, if I slack off, then I have nothing for Buddy to be working on. So I sort of need to stay on top of shit. But we keep on each other enough, and it just gets done.
C'mon... You know damn well I'd be a Stud-Muffin. But if that was taken already, I'd be a Dunkin' Donuts Chocolate Chip Muffin with those huge sugar crystals up top. Yeahhhh. Mmmmmm.
1. Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way, who are you and what do you do in the band?
My name is Jeremy Comitas. I play guitar and sing some supporting vocals for Bayonet.
2. How did you and Buddy Nielsen hook up to do this project?
I was home from The Banner's Europe tour since November of last year. We didn't do any shows or work on anything really, so I was aching to do something. I started toying around with some rough demos. I was playing the songs for Ben from the band Armor For Sleep at my place one day, and he let me know Buddy was looking to do a Hardcore Punk band. Buddy ended up just calling me the next day, and we started meeting up regularly.
3. What are the general thematic elements in Bayonet's material, if any? Do the songs coincide with each other in subject matter/motif?
I wish I could go a bit more in depth for you guys on this one. Music-wise, the theme is in your face aggression. Plain and simple. At any given moment, we want our songs to sound pissed, desperate, or uplifting. Lyrically, It seems to me like Buddy has been throwing in topics of family life, as well as poems with less obvious meaning. I haven't unlocked the meaning of it all 100% yet, so I'll wait to go into more detail after Buddy clears that up a little bit personally first. Generally, our songs mesh lyrically... But we do have a few one-offs.
4. What immediate plans do you have for this band (releases, tours, labels, etc.)? What does the future hold?
As far as releases go, it looks like our prospective label will be putting it out on 7" vinyl, as well as iTunes and the usual digital media sites. We are also being sent to Salad Days in January, to record our full-length with Brian McTernan. (Snapcase, Thrice, Cave In, Circa Survive, Converge). He has developed a great relationship with Buddy over the years, and I am personally a big fan of his work. Now, tour plans are a little looser planned. We have gotten offered by a few really awesome bands to do tours with them, but as of right now all we have planned is a possible 5 dates with Defeater. Our future is limitless. This is a real band, not a one-off mash-up or side project. We have every intent to tour as much as your average full-time band.
5. How is the overall response from listeners? And what kind of feedback are you getting from those are fans of your other bands (Senses Fail, The Banner, Jerk City, etc.)?
So far, our response has been great! We didn't really expect so many people to jump on board during this pre-game phase. Everyone has been extremely supportive, and we have a nice handful of kids going around spreading the word the old fashioned way. We will put more into pushing the band and promoting it when the full-length is done... If need be. A lot of our messages and comments online are from Senses Fail fans, or fans of Buddy himself even. We get a lot of Banner kids as well, and a lot of people saying that they love both bands, so this is perfect for them. People are asking for more, and my main concern is that we can give them more as soon as possible.
6. What's the song writing process like for guys?
Fairly simple. I write a song, teach it to Paul in a loose and still somewhat open ended manor. Then Buddy puts his two cents in musically. He is really good at coming up with ideas for smoother transitions. It's great to have a singer who doesn't really play guitar too much, and expresses ideas through parts, rather than trying to change songs. I think when any songwriter lyrically or musically writes something, it is dear to them. Unless they are writing fish hook dance-pop substance lacking crap. Even then, some of those kids are proud of that garbage. But what I'm getting at, is that Buddy builds off of my parts, rather than straight up changing them. I respect that, and i can still get my original message across unscathed. I don't write any lyric content. Not my thing anymore. But we do have a bassist since we wrote our EP. Will wrote and played the bass parts on it, but he wasn't around for the actual songwriting. He is a very talented songwriter, and I only see him helping us. But if for any reason his input were to change our sound more than improve it, then we would not go that path. I also recorded the EP with some help of my co-worker Bill at The Machine Shop, and then Will mixed it the night he layed down the bass. So if any bands local to North Jersey or NYC wanna come track some songs, find me.
7. All of you are involved in numerous other projects and it goes without saying that things can get hectic. How did all of you find time to get this band running and off the ground?
Banner wasn't doing anything during this process, and Joey was working on a new band called Wolve as well at the time, so there was no conflict at all on my behalf. I wrote the skeletonwork for our material while Buddy was out on tour. He came home and we did revisions, dropped vocals, and the rest is history. None of our schedules have cause conflict. Paul has a day job, and I work at the studio with Will, so we are consumed as far as time goes... but that won't stop us from doing this. A lot of the responsibility falls directly on me as far as songwriting goes though. I mean, if I slack off, then I have nothing for Buddy to be working on. So I sort of need to stay on top of shit. But we keep on each other enough, and it just gets done.
8. What musical acts do you derive inspiration from? Do some of your influences fall outside the spectrum of hardcore? And what are your non-musical inspirations?
I can only speak for myself here. NOFX, Good Riddance, Propagandhi, and Kid Dynamite are my biggest punk rock musical influences. I'm not a fan of tough guy shit. I really like more anger driven/fast trashy hardcore. Poison The Well was my first favorite Hardcore band, and still remains my favorite. Those guys are the most talented people I've ever encountered. The Banner guys got me into Tragedy. I had already loved From Ashes Rise, and I wasn't even aware that those guys had a second band. Also, I really like The Bronx, Gallows, Ghost Of A Thousand, and some really dirty rock music. I'm a pop-whore at heart, so I still love my New Found Glory, Jimmy Eat World, and even Green Day. Who can resist? Faith No More and Mike Patton paved the way for some of my open-mindedness at a young age. There's hundreds of other bands I could go on and on about, but I think the ones I mentioned sum up more than enough to get a picture of what I draw influence from.
9. What do you hope to achieve with this band?
I just want to look back at this band in ten years and think it was awesome. I've played in a lot of bands over the years, and it's hard to look back and truly say one of them was amazing. I have one previous band I really had a passion like this for... but we never got an opportunity to turn heads. It means so much to me, and I know that Bayonet can mean even more to me. We just write the stuff we love and call it a day. You can't go wrong with this direction. There's nobody to impress, and no asses to blow smoke up.
10. And lastly, the definite question...if you were a muffin, what type of muffin would you be?
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