Interview with Chiodos - Vans Warped Tour Pomona 2013

It was awesome to get a few minutes of time from a couple of my favorite Chiodos guys, [because sometimes the guys who aren't the front-men have the most to say] Derrick and Pat, and learn a little more about the place they started and how things came about, now that you can say they're "pretty well-known" ;) (and internationally at that!) The guys were super friendly, fun to talk to, and totally on the same page when it came to answering my questions.

They're on Warped Tour this year, as we learned at the Kickoff party back in March, when Craig played an acoustic set. Be sure to check them out when they come to a city near you! And if by chance you've never heard of them, I'll leave you some informative links below, so you can put them on your "to listen to" list.

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When you started off with the band, what did you imagine for yourselves and where it would take you, compared to where it has?

Chiodos @ WT Pomona, by Scutterbug Photography

Didn't imagine it was going very far. It's definitely a lot different than I imagined. You don't really plan for it to be anything, if it happens, that's great. If it doesn't, it doesn't. I think as a musician, you start off doing it for the love of music, and you're not really looking for any kind of reward from that. It's rewarding enough. The music is... what it is. That's what you reward yourself with, creating something.

What has it been like, touring with different bands, visiting so many countries, and huge tours?

After a while it blurs together, touring with a bunch of different bands; you become good friends and establish relationships with certain people, but there's a lot of people you don't see often, because they're doing the same thing as you and travel a lot. It's been a great experience, always meeting new people is fun.

And touring the world is also great. Being able to see new things is the best. I can't complain.

What has been your favorite moment or city?

It's really hard to choose, because so many places are great. people spend their hard earned money to go to a concert in general. Most frequently and for the longest time, Chicago is one of those really hot spots for us. When we play shows there, it's always incredible. The kids are always going nuts there. San Diego is really good too. Anywhere in California. Also Texas is always good. And anywhere up on the East Coast. And after a while, anywhere. Those stand out the most.

What has been the inspiration that has kept you going, wanting to make music, and to continue on?

Derrick Frost @ Warped Tour Pomona, photo by Scutterbug Photography

Shows are always fun. My inspiration is not having to get a real job. Because I've worked those and it's not as fun. It's very hard to really be fortunate enough to be put in a position where you can do something you love and to be able to support yourself that way. A lot of people go to work everyday and are not loving what they do and that's unfortunate. It's nice - that's my motivation - knowing how much I love music and how I would rather do that than something I hate.
Something you enjoy, and not just for a paycheck.                                                

What are your tour woes, things you miss when you're on the road?

The usual things. Your own shower. We have a shower, but it's one of those soap on, rinse off, kind of things. My own bed. Simple things. Family, friends, wife [Pat], animals. The little things. The important things, but they are little. Things you take for granted.

If you could collaborate with one person, who would it be? (Living or dead.)

Pat: Kanye West.

Pat & Derrick post-interview (picture by ULR)

Derrick: In the past, it would have been kind of cool to do something with The Rolling Stones. They were really interesting. When I was growing up as a kid, one of my favorite bands when I was in highchool was the band Thursday. That would be great. Or Kanye. He's pretty awesome; definitely
the most unique.

What do you think of Yeezus, speaking of Kanye?

Heard a song or two. Really liked it. Never really disappointed by any of his music or his records. I'm more entertained by his antics, which makes me like him even more.

Thoughts on Jay-Z releasing his album through the Samsung app?

I like interesting, new ideas like that. Different ways for music to be distributed. Getting those new ideas out. Respect his marketability sense. He makes so much money and is so successful because he does something clever like that and something so outside the box.

Now having phones and everyone having apps, it's easier to accept things like this. Works better with someone huge like him. With someone established like him, he knows people will buy it regardless. That's pretty awesome. I didn't actually know about it, I'll have to research it.

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Go check out Chiodos; like them on Facebook & follow them on Twitter.

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Interview with Amity Affliction - Warped Tour Pomona 2013

I had a chance to talk to Ahren, who sings and plays bass for the Amity Affliction, an Australian band that has certainly made a name for itself here in the US. Personally, I think this band is different from a lot of the bands in the post-hardcore genre, especially with their latest album Chasing Ghosts. It was really enjoyable to find out a little bit more about how the band started and what their process is like, so I hope you enjoy reading about it as well. And if you aren't familiar with their music, I'll put some links below so you can find out what you've been missing!

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Photo by Scutterbug Photography

What was your image for the band, when you started out?

We started in high school and I wanted this to be my job to play music and tour, and take it as far as possible. And here we go, here we are.

What's your writing process like?

I'll usually write a whole song in Garage Band in my room, because I live far away from the other guys in the band, and then we send them back and forth by email. Joel writes all the lyrics and we piece them together like that.

Have you run into difficulties along the way to get where you are?

It's a hard lug, touring Australia, especially where we're from. We've been a band for 10 years now. It's been a long way to here.

What's been a favorite moment along the way?

Meeting people and making new friends. The whole thing. There's not just one moment, but the whole journey.

Photo by Scutterbug Photography

How do you feel you differ from other bands in your genre?

Our lyrics have a lot of meaning and passion behind them. Joel really helps kids see through depression. Musically, we're not too different from a lot of other bands, but we're more punk rocky.




If you could collaborate with one artist or band, dead or alive, who would it be?

Bon Scott, from ACDC.

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Check out The Amity Affliction on Facebook, Twitter, on their website, and on Warped Tour this summer! They put on a great live show that shouldn't be missed.

Photos by Scutterbug Photography, check her out on Facebook.

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Warped Tour Kickoff 2013 Interview with SECRETS (3/28/13)

I found SECRETS struggling to explain their name to a writer nearby, to which I politely interjected, "Their name is SECRETS - it's one word and all capital letters." to which Michael and Richard (bass & vocals/guitar) both gave me a smile and Michael exclaims, "Yeah, you know!"

The guys were really friendly and excited to talk about their music and upcoming news, which fans who listen to post-hardcore and that genre of "harder" style music should take note of.

Of course, some of the news they gave me on the "DL" is now public knowledge, but hopefully all you SECRETS fans will enjoy reading nevertheless.

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What are you influenced by in your music career? What got you started and fuels your fire to continue?

We all grew up in the music industry. This is our dream job. Pretty incredible to make a career of doing what we love.

What has been difficult to overcome along the road?

Picture from Facebook. With new vocalist Aaron Melzer!

When you get together as a band and start playing music, it seems like a lot of fun, but you don't know what to expect before tour. There can be things about your fellow band members you don't know about and once you're on tour you might not like those things or be able to relate to them. It's rough being away from home and being on the road for so long.

We recently lost our bassist and vocalist (who we've replaced now with Aaron Melzer) which is really hard - we've all been super close.

What have been some of your favorite moments?

Europe, definitely. New York City. It's so unreal and like the movies - so cool to have that chance to see the world and doing what you love. Meeting people and kids with problems that you can relate to.

What are your guys' musical influences?

Death Cab for Cutie, Brand New, Bayside, Underoath, As Cities Burn, and A Day to Remember (post-hardcore scene).

If you could choose someone to collaborate with, who would it be?

Michael: Justin Bieber or Kanye West.  Richard: Ben Gibbard. Aaron: Tom Denney

What can we expect from you in 2013?

A new album, a new look, and a lot of good sh*t.

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Check the band out on Facebook, Twitter, and their website, where you can preorder their new album, Fragile Figures, out July 23rd! Also be sure to check them out on select Warped Tour Dates!


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Warped Tour Kickoff 2013 Interview with New Years Day (3/28/13)

It's been a busy last few months, I must admit. Although that isn't the reason I'm finally publishing my work from the Warped Tour Kickoff Party! I'll get right to the point here.

They were having quite the busy evening with all of the interviews being recorded, but the spooky sweet New Years Day clan were gracious enough to grant me with a few minutes of their time; all of the members got involved and it was certainly one of the most memorable interviews I've had yet!

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What was your inspiration to get together and start a band?

It started out as something to do. I didn't know how to do anything else. It began as an accident, really. And you have a choice in life - you can be a musician or you can be a serial killer.

Where do you get ideas for lyrics; what's your writing process liked?

It comes from a lot of bad things, honestly. Anxiety, insanity, heartbreak, depression. That's how we cope with those things. I once made an attempt at a happy song. It was called "Murder."

What are your musical influences?

Darker music; bands with dark imagery like MCR, Avenged Sevenfold, and AFI. We naturally became spooky and creepy; Halloween like.

What would be some of your guys' ideal collaborations?

Gerard Way, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Richard Ramirez, Danny Elfman

What has been your favorite tour or a specific favorite show?

Warped Tour. Main stage in Phoenix or New Mexico. In New Mexico, they get Albucrazy!

Have you had a least favorite moment or a very memorable one?

Picture from Facebook

Last Warped Tour - we had to sell our van and drive home in a UHaul.

What can fans expect from you in 2013?

Lots of touring, lots of shows, and on June 11th we release a brand-new full-length album!

Tell me your long-term goals, say 5 years from now?

World domination.

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Well, there you have it. Prepare yourselves for New Years Day to take over the planet. And if you're unfamiliar, you should probably get to know them so you recognize who's coming for you!

Here are their Facebook and Twitter.

Now that their album is actually out (though this was written before it was) you should definitely hop on it and buy it. And while you're at it, catch them on Warped Tour at a date near you!

Picture from Facebook

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Interview with The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood has been on my "watch list" since I first heard them, and the fact that none of my friends seemed to know their music was frustrating to me! How were so many good bands like this one so unknown, while others with more "marketable" sound were filthy rich and ridiculously famous? (Just another reason why I am passionate about this website - to help those great bands get more recognition - free press is good press!) I fell in love with their music, the lyrics, their energy, and I told myself I knew that they were gonna hit it big. I didn't know when, but I knew it was going to happen for them.

If you don't know them, they're California based and comprised of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, bassist Mikey Margott, drummer Bryan Sammis, and guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels. All hugely talented guys, with an obvious passion for music. It's been said that they popped up out of nowhere as a band, and I think that mysterious aura adds something to their music.

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How did you guys first get started as a band?

We all knew each other and decided we wanted to try and fulfill this shared vision we had with our best friends.

What, if anything, have you run into as a band that was difficult to overcome?

We were thrust into this world so fast. It was the best thing that has ever happened to us, but going from living at home to being on tour for over a year is definitely something that you need to adjust to.

Do you feel like those things brought you closer and made the band even stronger?

Definitely. We live together now, all day every day. We've gone through the trials and tribulations of a proper relationship. We've had arguments and disagreements and it's all brought us to a place of love.

Tell me about your current process in songwriting and recording. Has this changed at all since the beginning?

It's always been an evolving process, especially on the road. Now a days people work on songs in the van on their computers and such. We have also been jamming some new stuff during sound-checks, which is definitely a new experience.

Who writes most of the lyrics and music? Or is it a collaboration between all of you?

Jesse writes the lyrics. We all write the music.

Photo by Eric T. White (c)

Do you find writing songs therapeutic, if you use real life experiences to influence them? They seem to be pretty different than a lot of what's going on in the music scene these days, so I'd like to know about where they come from.

It's definitely therapeutic. The lyrics are all truthful and about real life things. The music is from a place where we get to express our feelings through our instruments.

Did you experience any issues or problems while recording your new album?

Honestly, no. Our biggest problem was which songs to put on the album.

Do you think that the Spotify EMERGE contest had a lot to do with building your fan base more recently?

Spotify is a great tool for people to find music. It has definitely helped people find us.

How has being on tour for you recently? Have you had a favorite moment that has stood out as being especially memorable?

Denver was a great show with our good buds in the band Lovelife.

What can fans expect from you in 2013/2014 after your current tour is over? I know you just released a new album, but hey, the fans always want more!

They will get more. It will be momentous for us. You'll see.

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? What are your long-term goals for the band?

I see us doing what we do on a larger scale. Being more respected.

I'm curious as to how you feel about the way music sales have changed, such as online sales and illegal downloading. Do you feel like this improes the way that music is purchased and reaches your fans ears?

Definitely. It makes it more accessible.

Do you think that the future of CD and vinyl sales will eventually be completely replaced by online music sales?

No, because there will always be that niche market for vinyl.

If each of you could colaborate with one artist or band, who would it be?

Mikey: Dustin Kensrue
Zach: Kendrick Lamar
Jeremy: Tony Iommi
Bryan: Hans Zimmer
Jesse: DJ Premier

If each of you could pick one place to travel/tour to, where would it be?

Mikey: Hawaii
Zach: The Beach in the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio
Jeremy: New Zealand
Bryan: Japan
Jesse: Paris

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If you don't know this band and their music, please do yourself a big favor and get acquainted right now. You don't even have to thank me. Let the music speak to you like it did to me. It might be one of the best things you do for yourself! Buy the music if you like it. Support them! I can't stress how important that is.

Find them on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.


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