New England post-hardcore group Vanna have spent the last several years on a personal journey, and it's the experience of living on the road that has helped them to discover who they truly are. After years of relentless touring and musical growth, the band has found balance with A New Hope, both literally and figuratively.Since the bands formation in 2004 Vanna - Chris Preece (vocals), Nick Lambert (guitar/vocals), Evan Pharmakis (guitar/vocals), Shawn Marquis (bass) and newcomer Chris Campbell (drums) - have built a strong following based on their killer live shows, which helped garner attention from Epitaph Records. The band signed with the label in 2005 and released their debut EP, The Search Party Never Came, the fo...
When John Brown's Body released their fourth studio album in 2005, the band looked forward to the happy grind of touring to support the release. With Pressure Points hailed by critics as "their strongest, most consistent effort to date," [Popmatters] JBB set out on tour and continued their efforts to conquer the world. Little did they know that they were about to go through a series of events that would significantly change the band. They endured the death of bassist Scott Palmer, the departure of several long time members (including singer and co-founder Kevin Kinsella), and throat surgery for lead singer Elliot Martin-enough challenges to end the career of many groups. Instead, JBB emerged with a brand new line-up and a fearl...
Dino Campanella (drums, keys) Mark Engles (guitar) Gavin Hayes (vocals, guitar) Drew Roulette (bass, moog, speak & spell, samples) Dredg specializes in meaningful contradictions: they're at once aggressive and beautiful, visceral and thoughtful. Dredg has blurred boundaries since their inception in 1993 but The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion puts their skills in dramatic relief, combining all the raw power of their earliest records with the epic sweep of El Cielo and exceptional songwriting of Catch Without Arms. It's a statement of purpose that finds the Californian quartet embracing their new status as independent rockers, relishing the opportunity to try ideas that have been percolating for years. The ...
Zee Avi is just 23 but she's an old soul. A huge talent in a petite frame bringing a universal message from the unlikely birthplace of Borneo, an ancient island east of Malaysia which remains an untouched, natural paradise, an apt description of her songs. How Avi came to record her debut album in L.A., the first joint release from Ian Montone's Monotone Label and Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records, is a true 21st century tale of the way the Internet has transformed the music business and shrunk the globe in the process. Born in the tiny town of Miri in Sarawak on the island of Borneo, Zee grew up near the South China Sea in a liberal, encouraging household where her father owned an energy consultancy. "I was b...
For the Von Bondies, the most important reason to make music isn't a complicated one. "We're here to entertain people so they forget that they have a 9 to 5 job to go to in the morning," says Jason Stollsteimer, the Michigan-based band's singer-songwriter-guitarist. "We love what we do or else we wouldn't do it; it's for us and the fans." With the February 2009 release of Love, Hate and Then There's You, the Von Bondies' third studio album and their debut for Majordomo Records (a division of Shout! Factory), those fans will experience a band that's come a long way since 2004's smash album Pawn Shoppe Heart. Now in their ninth year together, Stollsteimer and drummer Don Blum, the Von Bondies' other fou...
Chances are you have heard something Jeremy Chatelain has had a hand in - you just may not know it. From his earliest days in the alternative rock outfit Handsome to his most recent offerings as the bass player / vocalist in indie giants Jets to Brazil, the past 5 years has seen Jeremy in his most interesting guise to date as Cub Country.'Stay Poor / Stay Happy' unveils ten more tales that continue in the incredible tradition of Americana that Jeremy has spoken of his love for in the past years. Set for US release on Future Farmer Records on September 28th, the album was recorded over a two-year span in such diverse locales as Brooklyn, Salt Lake City and Chapel Hill, NC. 'Stay Po...
Spinnerette is the sound of a sweaty black leather glove holding a lollipop's stick, shoving it into crushed glass before offering you the first lick. If that made any sense, it might be Spinnerette. There is sweetness and there is menace. You will have the desire in spite of the obvious danger. Have you been hurt before? This is no awkward first fumble in the rumble seat: Spinnerette comes with experience. Brody Dalle has been places nice girls fear to tread without sacrificing virtue or integrity. Her last long-term relationship, The Distillers, ended messily, the way relationships tend to do. In the following months, there was a lot for one heart to bear: the pain of illness striking those...
This interview was something of a dream come true. What made it so much better than I expected was how Devin answered so many of my questions without me having to ask them. Enjoy. KS: I suppose we should start out with your new album. I've had a chance to listen to it quite a bit since it's been out and I'm very impressed with it. I've been a fan for a number of years, and I'm hearing a lot of different textures and tones to it. I guess I just wanted to ask you first off about that, about the differences between "Ki" and what you've done in the past. How you see it. DT: I appreciate it, I mean, the thi...
Eyedea and Ablilties return with By the Throat, July 21st on Rhymesayers. After a five year break exploring new sounds, experiencing life, learning and growing in a separate capacity, Micheal Larsen and Gregory Keltgen (Eyedea and Abilities) are back and better than ever. By the Throat advances beyond the duo's history as battle machines (winners of Scribble Jam, Rocksteady, the Blaze Battle and the D.M.C.s) and cuts right to the vein. Eyedea and Abilities bring biting guitars, fuzzy keyboards, melodic choruses, and their most intricate turntable work to date. It is laced in subject matter ranging from coping with loss and the hardships of addiction, to Micheal's signature fascination with neuroscience, and quantum me...
Exhilaration: The state of being stimulated, refreshed, or elated; the feeling of lively and cheerful joy. If one was forced to pick a single word to describe the music of ANNABEL, it would be exhilaration. The title of the indie rock/pop outfit from Kent, Ohio's latest EP, Now That We're Alive, is about as a appropriate as it gets. The five songs speak to that exhilaration - that youthful, honest exuberance. It is that feeling that carries Annabel to such memorable heights on Now That We're Alive. On Now That We're Alive, Annabel plays an infectious brand of indie pop laced with feverish melodies. The band balances it all with post-punk dynamics that convey a heightened sense of urgency. Annabel delivers a great deal of melodic g...
So just how crucial is it that a band lives up to and embodies its catchy moniker? It’s a good bet that thousands of fans who have been rocking to the explosive, hard hitting Rochester, New York based Candella haven’t boned up on the scientific origin of the name. Take away that extra “L” and you’ve got the base unit of luminous intensity—that is, power emitted by a light source in a particular direction. The term is the perfect metaphor for the high energy foursome’s upward ascent in the indie music world and the infectious glow they’ve cast on audiences with their lush, driving sound and dark-edged, no holds barred lyrics. Since breaking onto the scene in 2007, Candella--frontman Lee Goodale...
After spending the better part of two years on the road (including festival stops at Lollapallooza, Glastonbury (UK), Sasquatch, Monolith and tours with The Walkmen, Spoon, Richard Swift, The Cribs, White Denim and Tokyo Police Club) White Rabbits hunkered down in their Brooklyn practice space to set about re-envisioning the dark pop of their debut Fort Nightly, while adding new sounds and influences to achieve an original work. The result is It’s Frightening, their second full-length album.White Rabbits signed to TBD Records (US home to Radiohead/Other Lives/Hatcham Social) and erected a makeshift studio in their basement rehearsal space to demo new material. Band members popped in and out...
It’s no Desillusion—over the past two years, the hottest clubs in Seattle have been rockin’ hard and heavy with the band’s blistering rocktronic/industrial/metal explosions—a hybrid vibe that Exotic Underground compares to Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward and early Marilyn Manson. Driven by the rebellious intensity of wild and charismatic frontman Westin Halvorson (who also handles guitars and programming), the three piece unit is ready to blast out of the cozy confines of the Pacific Northwest with the release of their debut five-song EP Blasphaestetic. The disc’s moniker sums up Desillusion’s take on the world perfectly. To Westin, Jay Keller (bass) and Galen Waling (drums), the term “Blas...
It's the rockstar thing that drives linus.maybe. Nice riffs and catchy hooks - as if they had been writing nothing but hits for the past. Whereas the lyrics reveal the true core of their songs - with a little tongue in cheek: These days, beauty is only skin-deep.If Oasis-Singer Liam Gallagher asks his doctor for a remedy for his hangover, if the Marlboro-Man gives up on smoking to take his beloved by storm, then the world hasn't gone insane - these scenes rather arise from the imaginantion of linus.maybe. Songwriter Philippe loves to tell stories. Mostily with a tongue-in-cheek, but sometimes wistful and touching.After a four song EP that contains the britpop-sati...
Ryan Bingham has spent most of his life on the road, first on the rough-and-tumble rodeo circuit, then moving from town to town on the equally volatile roadhouse musical circuit. Those travels have given him plenty of material to draw from - and plenty of reason to stop for a moment to dig in his heels and take a stand. That's exactly what the Texas-bred troubadour does on his second Lost Highway album, Roadhouse Sun, a hardscrabble collection that's at once unblinkingly personal and unapologetically political - the latter a new and bracingly vivid addition to Bingham's palette. The expanded consciousness bursts to the surface of several cuts on Roadhouse...
With his rolling, curly brown hair and intensely dark eyes framing a hippie-vintage-rocker look, Foster McGinty shines in his life’s role as both a ‘knowing nod’ to the wah-wah drenched days of old and a hopeful, promising look forward into the future of Rock & Roll. Foster’s deep rock roots stretch from small town midwestern beginnings all the way to California and back to The Big Apple, where he now calls home. Long before Foster was a Guitar God to-be, he started by “diggin’ out my Dad’s guitars in the basement, and bending the strings at five years old.” Born in Memphis and raised in M...
If Andre 3000 and Eminem had a Hip-Hop Superbaby, it would be KALEO FUTURISTO. KALEO is an incredibly unique artist with an equally incredible look, sound and message. He is one of those rare artistic mavericks who can alter the landscape of the music industry. He is an extraordinarily talented individual who blends product and purpose to produce a unique and eclectic musical creation that is primed to explode upon the world! KALEO FUTURISTO, simply put, has that intangible "IT" quality that defines a SUPERSTAR. KALEO's fascinating life began in the culturally diverse and musically rich city of Pasadena, California but, his upbringing was anything but rose colored. He was bo...
Cary Judd has been traversing the continent for the last 4 years, performing in every imaginable arena from house concerts to stadiums.His brand of genuine song writing coupled with his compelling live show, never fails to leave an impression on an audience. He surrounds himself on stage with an array of instrumentation, from loop machines, sequencers, effect pedals, and drums to the acoustic guitar that sits at the heart of his songs. His sound is compared by listeners to such artists as The Cure, Joseph Arthur, and The Honorary Title. His story telling and dead pan humor continue to endear him to audiences of all demographics.Cary was born and raised in the town of Thousand Oaks, California, the once rural town jus...
Iconoclast are a hard rocking band from Ottawa who have built quite a name for themselves based on ass-kicking live shows. The band is rolling into Toronto to play Lee's Palace on April 9th.I had the opportunity to speak with lead singer Marc Bourgon in anticipation of the show. Here's our conversation:T.O. Snob: Thanks for doing this for us. Marc Bourgon: Thank you, we really appreciate the exposure. It's really hard for Ottawa bands to get any kind of publicity unless you're in this kind clique that's really become the media darlings. Certain bands like kind of fall within, I don't want to slag bec...
I had the opportunity to speak with Canadian singer/songwriter Hannah Georgas prior to her in-store performance at Criminal Records last night. She is a talented and charming musician. If you haven't heard her EP yet, you need to run and get it.Here's our conversation on a cold and noisy Queen West corner:T.O. Snob: It's nice to meet you. I've heard the EP finally and it's fantastic. Hannah Georgas: Why thank you.T.O. Snob: So are we going to get a full length from you soon? HG: Yes, we're going in to make my record in April. So we're excited about that.T.O. Snob: This is...
Pree is the new band from ex-Le Loup member May Tabol. Their debut EP, A Chopping Block, came out on March 24th.Recently I had the opportunity to do a Q&A with May. Here's our conversation:T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. You are about to release a stellar EP A Chopping Block. What should fans expect from it? May Tabol: There's a lot of energy that made its way into the records. At some points, it comes across as very sharp and pointed,...
I recently had the privilege of asking Mobile vocalist Mat Joly a few questions about their music and touring:T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. You're playing the Sound Academy in Toronto on March 12th as part of Canadian Music Week. For people who have never experienced it, what can fans expect from a Mobile show? Mat Joly: They can expect a very high-energy set filled with passion and great tunes. We've always been recognized as a really good live band and we love to hit the stage and give everything we got.T.O. SnobWhen you play a festival like CMW do you get a chance to check out any of...
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with North Elementary's John Harrison about their new album. Here's how it all went down: T.O. Snob: First off, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. Your new album, Not For Everyone, Just For You was just released. How would you describe the album and North Elementary's sound? John Harrison: My best guess to describe this album would be songs that are surrounded by sounds and noise lending a 3D quality to the final compositions. I enjoy writing the songs (mostly on acoustic guitar on my couch) - then taking them to the ...
Before coming together to form Darklight Corporation, the four members were literal strangers. After spending five years in London and being heavily influenced by its electronica scene, Prenter returned home to NZ to settle back into a quieter life. Instead, he rediscovered his love for the guitar and within three months had written more than enough material for a full album. His music was dark and aggressive but very much in the pop vein, brutal at times but with splendid moments of beauty a...
Drawing inspiration from a fascinating lifetime of musical experiences and the synergy of many of his talented longtime musical compadres, singer, songwriter and harmonica veteran Manuel Bruce (pronounced Broo-say) presents Manuel Is Back With Friends--an eclectic 13-track collection of vocals and instrumentals, originals and creatively arranged cover tunes that draws from numerous stylistic wells: folk/Americana, South American music and the classic rock he grew up on. ...
Irresistible Regina indie pop ensemble Rah Rah are coming to Toronto play a pair of shows May 11th (The Boat) and May 12th (El Mocambo). I had the chance to speak with band members Kristina Hedlund, Erin Passmore, Samra Sahlu, and Marshall Burns about the shows and more:T. O. Snob: Thanks for taking the time to do this with us. You're playing in Toronto on May 11th and 12th. If someone hasn't seen you play before what can they expect from your show? Erin: Energy! Maybe a wolf shirt or two, candy, sock feet, and the running man!Kristina: One can expect songs that will break your heart, then slap you ...
If Jason Lytle learned anything from nearly 15 years at the helm of Grandaddy - the Modesto, California quintet whose celebrated five-album run started as a project in Lytle's bedroom and took him around the world - it's that he's just not cut out to be a 21st century pop star. There were triumphs, no doubt - they toured the world, created a technological dystopian classic with 2000's The Sophtware Slump, shared stages with Elliott Smith, and talked shop with David Bowie when he turned up at their shows. But Lytle was a poor fit for life in a breakthrough indie rock franchise. Touring was endured more than enjoyed, and he often found himself wishing he was biking or skateboarding, staring into h...
There is a fragility coating the sweeping songs of The Soldier Thread; it's scrawled on every measure and delicately interwoven with each chilling harmony.It's a sound that creeps into the room with a wispy ambiance, allowing for a tangible vulnerability. But suddenly, each calculated melody comes crashing together, and the dynamic shifts. The sound begins to swell with a vibrant chorus, and the fragility gives way into something more powerful, more meaningful. For The Soldier Thread, this comes as second nature. For the rest of us, it comes as breathtaking."Mend Your Heart With Soldier Thread". So goes the mantra of the Austin-based quintet. Their songs are saturated in the themes of unrequited l...
An emotional rollercoaster of piano keys, and a devious childlike outlook, Versailles little girls all mold together to form one unique artist. The pain and torment of a sad child come at you with each delicate racing note. Versailles, wants to give you the opportunity to get closer to the devastation and disaster that can be so much of what we feel in our daily lives. All songs on the current album relate to both mental and physical abuse. This may hurt a little so prepare yourself and remember to remain calm :)Versailles is (Dianna Marie St.Hilaire) singer songwriter and piano player. Versailles grew up in Albuquerque,NM. Versailles started to show interest in music at age 2. She began to write...
Boston-based singer/songwirter Marissa Nadler has recently released her fourth studio album, Little Hells.I had the opporuntiy to speak with Marissa, here's how our conversation went:T.O. Snob: Thanks for doing this. You're coming to Toronto on April 21st, what can people expact from your show? Marissa Nadler: I thin a gentle, mellow, ethereal sound.T.O. Snob: I think Little Hells is probably your best album yet. Do you consciously set out to try to surpass what you've done before? MN: That's always the intention. As an artist you're always trying to grow and metamorphisis....
