Dead Air Radio April 26th, 2010

1 - "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus
2 - "Liberties" by AttackInBlack
3 - "Breaking Down" by Good Old War
4 - "Your Humble Narrator" by Two Cow Garage
5 - "Mile After Mile" by Straylight Run
6 - "Bleed American" by Jimmy Eat World
7 - "Imaginary Enemy" by Circa Survive
8 - "Slow Man" by Sage Francis
9 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
10 - "Deafening" by Far
11 - "Swing" by Taking Back Sunday
12 - "Affinity For My Hometown" by Settle
13 - "Try" by Straylight Run
14 - "Can't Be Saved" by Senses Fail
15 -  "Me And The Moon" by Something Corporate
16 - "Where Did You Go?" by Valencia
17 - "Island" by The Starting Line
18 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
19 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
20 - "Took A Turn" by Young Widows
21 - "Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)" by P.O.S.
22 - "Black Eyes" by Gallows
23 - "Disconnected" by The Steal
24 - "Trippin' The Life Fantastic" by Weatherbox

The Pinnacle - My Interview With Geoff Rickly Of Thursday & United Nations

Like the Cancer Bats interview below this one is a long time coming.  Out of anyone from the music world I respect Geoff Rickly the most.  He has continually been my voice in issues dealing with homosexuality, government, the state of music, and relationships.  I have been listening and reading his words since I was seventeen and they have never lost any of their value to me. 

Interviewing him was otherworldly.  He was gentle, intelligent, and very conversational, something that is hard to come by in the real world let alone in the world of music.  He spoke with frankness about his views of the industry, politics, music, and the fan culture of current music.  It was a fantastic experience and it was the pinnacle of my college music career.

Interview by Matthew Winters, Video and Editing by Shay Bonnie. 



























Here are some question and answers about his side project United Nations -

Dead Air Radio April 19th, 2010

1 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
2 - "Famous Friends And Fashion Drunks" by A Wilhelm Scream
3 - "100 K" by The Loved Ones
4 - "The Redness In The West" by The Lawrence Arms
5 - "Give It All" by Rise Against
6 - "Shitty Future" by The Bronx
7 - "Honest Sleep" by Touche Amore
8 - "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers" by The Blood Brothers
9 - "Vipers, Snakes, And Actors" by Norma Jean
10 - "Not Dead" by Crime In Stereo
11 - "Deathsmarch" by Cancer Bats
13 - "Cell Mates" by Maraichi El Bronx
13 - "Cowards Sing At Night" by Tom Gabel
14 - "I'm Not For You" by Good Old War
15 - "Sometimes The Line Walks You" by Murder By Death
16 - "No Exception" by Chris Wollard & The Ship Theives
17 - "Like A Record Player" by Brenden Kelly
18 - "Naked At A Family Function" by Settle
19 - "Complaintor" by The Color Fred
20 - "Where Did You Go?" by Valencia
21 - "Direction" by The Starting Line
22 - "Don't Let Her Drag You Down" by New Found Glory
23 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
24 - "Asleep In The Chamber" by Thursday
25 - "Quit Benefit" by Pianos Become The Teeth
26 - "Hearing Damage" by Thom Yorke
27 - "Scream" by Verse
28 - "The Shape Of Punk That Never Came" by United Nations

Finally --- My Full Interview With Cancer Bats Singer Liam Cormier

It is finally here.  I got a new computer so I am now able to post and show you the video document of my interview with Liam from Cancer Bats.  This interview took place a year ago at In The Venue on The Taste of Chaos.  I just remember how awesomely nice Liam was to me and my camera woman Shay.  He was so personable and easy to talk to, it was quite startling due to powerful nature of his on stage persona. Without further ado here is in pieces my interview with Liam. 























Interview by Matthew Winters, Camera & Editing by Shay Bonnie.

Live Show Review - Crime In Stereo with Robbers, Reviver, & Despite Despair at the Basement April 14th, 2010

Honestly I never thought that Ogden, Utah would be home to great touring acts again. With the closure of Boom Va in the mid section of the last decade I thought that music lovers in Ogden would have to forever flock to Salt Lake. Last year, however, Jason Allen changed all that with the opening of The Basement in downtown Ogden. Since its inception it has hosted some great underground touring acts and has become a sort of haven for local musicians that crave a real stage to play on. So it should be no surprise that he should book a pair of touring bands as good as Robbers and Crime In Stereo, but I will get to them in a minute.

Opener Despite Despair from Provo started off the evening with a dedicated hardcore set. Despite being a younger band they plowed through a short set that focused on a very good interpretation of modern metalcore with some hardcore punk leanings. Despite Despair reached into the playbook that made Modern Life Is War and Botch mainstays and styled it very well. Tigg, drummer, played in the vein of Refused drummer David Sandstrom, and that kind of energy is not very easy to duplicate, but Tigg did it in boat loads. The band are currently working on an EP and if it is anything as good as their live show then good things are in store.

Reviver took the floor next, these guys have been around for a long time, and they never fail to disappoint. Their music reminds me of the energy of early Crime In Stereo mixed with a little No Motiv, punk but with some more melodic leanings. As always they raced through their set like some one was going to steal the mics away from them, but that is just what this band is about. Reviver craft hard hitting, fast punk with little fat anywhere. They did however have a lot of noodling in between songs, and with some time and more diversification of their sound I could see them being something akin to Crime In Stereo's current material.

Robbers were mental. Their Colour Revolt-esque indie rock was such a departure from the previous bands sets but, oddly, it fit so well. Even if their brand of music was not entertaining you have to appreciate their lead singer jumping around and singing so beautifully. The songs from their debut Flesh drifted into one another but did not blur together, instead they created a beautiful mix of indie rock and straight ahead rock. Robbers must have been paying attention when they opened for Brand New a few months back, as they created a stage presence that was just as intense as Brand New but much more personable than Brand New. Robbers swirling chords, powerful base lines, and disparate vocals, ranging from whispers to shouts, filled the Basement and got more than one person dancing. Bands like Robbers can fit with a cornucopia of artists and their touring plans show that fact, after this tour with Crime In Stereo they are heading out on some dates with P.O.S. Robbers put on a powerful live set that if they continue touring will set them up for a long time.
 

This is a really bad cell picture of Robbers.  Picture by Matthew Winters.

I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone is the type of album that accelerates a band from being a opening act to making them a true blue headliner. Crime In Stereo know this and put on a set, albeit for a small crowd, that proved that the energy and craftsmanship of their recent album is not just studio magic. Starting off with the double punch of "Everything Changes / Nothing Is Ever Truly Lost" and "Bicycles For Afghanistan" and accelerating from there the band sailed through a set that contained songs from everyone of their full lengths. The older material, including songs from 2007's ...Is Dead, still had the urgency that it was crafted with, particularly the bruising ...Is Dead opener "Xxxx (The First Thousand Years)." The newer songs faired well but have not been road tested enough, don't get me wrong "Drugwolf" and "Not Dead" sounded great but they were not as good sounding as the older songs. It felt like the band have not had enough time to truly perfect how they want to present them live, and for a band this perfectionist that is something that will come with time. The last time I saw Crime In Stereo I was dumbfounded by their drummer Scotty Giffin and his powerful style of drumming, this time it was vocalist and guitarist Alex Dune that captivated my attention. Despite a few set backs (a broken string, some feedback issues) his powerful vocal delivery and his ability as a guitarist really shone through. Singer Kristian Hallbert was just wonderful and you could tell he was perfectly at home on the smaller stage he was on, however with their new record and a blistering live show I have to wonder how much longer will they be playing the smaller stages.

Set list -

1 - "Everything Changes / Nothing Is Ever Truly Lost"
2 - "Bicycles For Afganistan"
3 - "Xxxx (The First Thousand Years)"
4 - "Sudan"
5 - "For Exes"
6 - "Animal Pharm"
7 - "I Cannot Answer You Tonight"
8 - "Not Dead"
9 - "... But You Are Vast"
10 - "Drugwolf"
11 - "Gravity/Grace"
12 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" - This was not played due to feedback issues.
13 - "Small Skeletal"
14 - "I, Stateside"

Dead Air Radio April 12th, 2010

1 - "Album Of The Year" by The Good Life
2 - "Coney Island" by Good Old War
3 - "Mr. Richards" by Frank Turner
4 - "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue" by The Weakerthans
5 - "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath
6 - "An Absurd And Unrealistic Dream Of Peace" by Thursday
7 - "The Shape Of Punk That Never Came" by United Nations
8 - "Frequency Ass Bandit" by Botch
9 - "Image Of The Invisible" by Thrice
10 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
11 - "Long And Lonely Step" by These Arms Are Snakes
12 - "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers" by The Blood Brothers
13 - "The Sad Mafioso..." by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
14 - "Change Your Face Or Change Your Name" by Colour Revolt
15 - "Almost Ghostless / Above The Gathering Oceans" by Crime In Stereo
16 - "Sink To The Beat" by Cursive
17 - "Into The Mirror" by Minus The Bear
18 - "Harem Of Scorpions" by Cancer Bats
19 - "Prelude (Again)" by This Is Hell
20 - "Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Real Man To Live In It" by Underoath
21 - "Appeared And Was Gone" by Thursday
22 - "Prayer Of The Refugee" by Rise Against
23 -  "Orchestra Of Wolves" by Gallows
24 - "Sink Into Me" by Taking Back Sunday
25 - "I'm Through With The Past But The Past Isn't Through With Me" by Straylight Run
26 - "Buried Myself Alive" by The Used
27 - "Checkmarks" by The Academy Is...
28 - "We Will Erase All Life On Earth" by Say Anything
29 - "Saints & Sailors" by Dashboard Confessional
30 - "Thrash Unreal" by Against Me!

Lyric Of The Day

"My tightly coiled, regressed, frustrated past fading fast. / I was constantly exploding, I was constantly screaming."

- "I'm Through With The Past, But The Past Isn't Through With Me" by Straylight Run on About Time.

- If this is what I have to expect from Adam and John on the next Taking Back Sunday album, then I will be so happy.  Lyrically John was on the top of his game with this little four song EP.  It is a collection of songs that are completely unsubjected to the worries of a major label and that is what makes them seem so effortless.  Sad to see them go but happy to see them back.

News Bits & Bobs - April 12th

1 - Deathwish Inc. and Six Feet Under Records have released a monster new digital sampler for the fall.  It is HUGE, mostly new or unreleased stuff from great hardcore, metalcore, and metal bands from the Deathwish Family.  My highlight is a new track from United Nations (Geoff Rickly from Thursday, Daryl Polumbo from Glassjaw, others) called "Pity Animal", it rips so hard.  Pick up a copy for free at http://www.deathwishinc.com/news/#510 .

2 - Taking Back Sunday is back together and recording.  I don't care if they sound like TBS circa 2003 or if they play Tell All Your Friends ever again, if it is as good as Straylight Run's last EP and much of TBS's post break material then I will be a happy camper.  Check out this awesome teaser video -



3 - Dead Air Radio will go on tonight at 8 PM Mountain Time for the illustrious KWCR studios in Ogden, Utah.  Tune in for the best in punk, hardcore, and emo music.  Hosted by Matthew, Chelsea, Scott, & Derek.

III: Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones by Cancer Bats

Released 13th, 2010 on Distort Entertainment.

February 2009 was an amazing month in my life. Mostly for two reasons: it was the lead up to the last semester of my college days, and I got to interview Thursday and Cancer Bats in the same day. Some kids dream that they will someday fly a plane or do surgery or maybe write a novel, I dreamt for a long time of interviewing and talking with Geoff Rickly from Thursday. Liam Cormier was a close second. What threw me off about both of these men is how open they were, they just talked and talked to me and my camera woman Shay. They look like hard dudes but Liam and Geoff are honestly just sweet dudes. The thing that sticks out though from both of their interviews is that they were both so smart, honest, and aggressive, but older. They still had the fire in their eyes to create music that makes kids mosh and think at the same time.


This is the overwhelming thought I had as I delved into III: Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones: Liam and his crew from Canada are older. They have been around for awhile and they obviously are older when you meet them and talk to them, however they shred and yelp, scream and pound better than most loud bands that are years younger than they are. From opener "Sleep This Way" to the album closer, a cover of seminal Beastie Boys track "Sabotage" the album just rips.

Liam screams, yelps, talks, sings and sometimes screeches through the tracks with a backing band that sounds like a mix between Pantera, Gallows, and some hints of the more straight ahead parts of the Blood Brothers. Guitarist Scott Middleton just rips the shit out of line after line with a proficiency that is rare for any person in any type of music. The drums ride back in the mix as does the bass to a certain extent but they are viciously there, one listen to "Sabotage" and you know.

Cancer Bats are not reinventing the wheel with this album. However, as with every good sports car or computer upgrade it comes with some wonderful new features. "Scared To Death" and "Trust No One" features Cormier speaking in some parts, slowing down and givin the tracks an uneasy but completely balanced feel. Lyrically this album is a little more claustrophobic and angry than previous albums but it is still distinctly positive, "In this life I want nothing, expect nothing but the truth I know I've found," Liam screams "Black Metal Bicycle" and you cannot help but want to scream along. The album has no guest stars but then again they are not really needed on an album that speeds this fast and is played this proficiently. Basically Cancer Bats took everything that was great about Hail Destroyer and added a few things that made the mix a little more dense and claustrophobic but still quintessentially Cancer Bats.

Cancer Bats proved once again why they are a band to be reckoned with, and this is the album that makes the general music scene appreciate that fact. Basically Cancer Bats rock harder and faster than most bands years younger than they are and have more fun. Above all that, Cancer Bats are just honest, they do not compromise their music to create more fans and do not have an agenda except to create blue collar rock with a metal edge. I can't really ask for too much more than that.

- Cancer Bats are heading out on tour this spring with Every Time I Die and Norma Jean.  Below are two videos from my interview with Liam, the second one about made me wet my pants, seriously.  Video shot and edited by Shay Bonnie, interview by Matthew Winters, shot at In The Venue behind the dumpster in Salt Lake City.





Rating - 5 out of 5
Favorite Tracks - "Trust No One", "Black Metal Bicycle", "Sabotage", & "Make Amends"

New Bits & Bobs - April 8th, 2010

1 - Here's one for you - utterly missed Canadian indie rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor are reuniting to help curate the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK next year.  In true GYBE fashion the band released a curious and indelibly original statement to the world.  Look at it below or here (http://www.1119732.net/) -

2 - Malcolm McLaren died today.  Though I am not a Sex Pistols fan and I have never worn a safety pin as an optional piece of clothing, the influence that this man had on the world of music, not just punk, was exceedingly important.  If you want to take a movement in music and bring it to the surface you couldn't do better than following this man's blueprint.

3 - M.I.A continues to prove to the world why she is amazing and why Lady Gaga is not in this month's NME.

4 - I bought a copy of the Take Action Compilation today.  My only question is when did it become not only acceptable but also desired for a emo pop punk band to become remixed?  It just seems to weird to me, is this a move towards emo kid dance clubs?  Will DJ's begin spinning the new cuts from All Time Low as remixed by Felix Da House Cat?  It seems to work for a few groups but others it does nothing to help the original sound better, mostly it just becomes even more unlistenable. (The Comp is awesome however, some really good live tracks and an unreleased Frank Turner track, bad ass.)

5 - To anyone who missed Dead Air Radio on Monday, we were snowed out and lost our ability to broadcast.  Sorry folks. Be there next monday with some new Cancer Bats.